YSU’s Presidential Conversations to feature Warren’s Darrius Simmons, self-taught pianist

Youngstown State University President Bill Johnson will welcome Warren native, pianist and composer Darrius Simmons as the featured guest for the next installment of the university’s Presidential Conversations series at noon Tuesday, Sept. 22, in Ford Theater in Bliss Hall.

The event is free and open to the public.

Simmons is a self-taught pianist and composer from Warren, Ohio, whose story of talent and determination has captured national attention. Born with a genetic condition called ectrodactyly, he has three fingers on his right hand and one finger on his left. He also was diagnosed with tibial hemimelia, a rare congenital lower-limb condition, and had both legs amputated below the knee at 18 months old.

None of that stopped Simmons. At age 10, he decided to teach himself piano, practicing by ear with no formal training.

Simmons composes much of his own music, including his best-known piece, “Dreams Are Forever.” Videos of his playing went viral online and caught the attention of South Korean pianist Yiruma, who invited him to perform onstage at Carnegie Hall in 2016. Simmons also is a trombonist and has performed with his high school’s jazz and marching bands.

He graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in 2019 and went on to study piano performance at Berklee College of Music in Boston. His story and talent have been featured on NBC Nightly News, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Steve Harvey Show and CNN.

Today, Simmons continues to compose and share his story as a speaker, while also growing his presence as a video game streamer and musician on Twitch and Facebook. He uses his music and platform to inspire audiences and show that perceived limitations can be redefined.

Outside of music, Simmons is a proud father to a five-year-old daughter.

President Johnson launched the Presidential Conversations series in March 2025 as a platform designed to foster meaningful dialogue and thought leadership across campus. The series features a variety of initiatives, including bringing renowned thought leaders to campus.