Margaret Simmons serves as vocal coach/pianist in the SIUC School of Music.  Associated with the Marjorie Lawrence Opera Theater and McLeod Summer Playhouse since 1977, she instructs both graduate and undergraduate singers and pianists in coaching and accompanying. Ms. Simmons has also won acclaim as a recitalist with chamber groups and with many professional singers. She has toured extensively presenting concerts and master classes throughout the United States and Canada, and has twice been invited to teach and perform at the National Academy of Music in Riga, Latvia.  In addition, she has served as the official pianist for the Mu Phi Epsilon International Competition and the National Society of Arts and Letters Musical Theater Competition.   Her current research project involves the collection, study and performance of art songs by African-American composers. In April, 2004, A New Anthology of Arts Songs by African American Composers which she edited with Jeanine Wagner, was released by the SIU University Press. Ms. Simmons completed the Master of Music in Accompanying at the University of Illinois, serving as a graduate assistant to the internationally known accompanist, John Wustman.  She holds, as well, a Master of Music from Florida State University in Music Theory and a BA from Meredith College.