Samantha Lewis

Mezzo-soprano Samantha Lewis has been praised for her inspirational emotive singing that has left audiences spellbound; audience member Alan Bain, following a performance of Karl Jenkins’s The Armed Man at Leicester De Montford Hall described Samantha’s singing as ‘The absolute highlight of the evening…the story telling of the voice in English is terribly important…in which Samantha’s performance was so good’. Christopher Morley’s review of the premiere of Liz Johnson’s Gentle Flame cantata called her ‘The undemonstratively eloquent mezzo soloist’.

Samantha is a recent graduate of The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and has been there since 2018 on their Masters and Advanced Postgraduate Diploma courses; Previously, she trained in Veterinary Science at Harper Adams University. Upon graduating with distinction, she was awarded the Postgraduate Course Prize for her year and the St Clare Barfield Rosebowl for Operatic Distinction 2021. She has been involved in several productions, most recently as Mercédès in Bizet’s opera, Carmen, with North Wales Opera Studio, Mary Magdalene in a staged production of Bach's St. John Passion,  Dorabella in Mozart’s ‘Così fan tutte’, Cendrillon (scenes) in Masssenet’s ‘Cendrillon’ but also as  Mother/Other Mother in Mark-Anthony Turnage’s 'Coraline', and Fanny Price in Dove's 'Mansfield Park'; She has recently explored the role of Cherubino and La Zelatrice from Mozarts ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’ and Puccini’s Suor Angelica respectively, which she thoroughly enjoyed. She has also recently gained a place on The Royal Opera House’s Jette Parker Artist Programme mentorship scheme, and has since been paired with Australian operatic soprano, Lauren Fagen. She is currently enjoying studying roles and further repertoire in preparation for upcoming competitions and auditions and recently, made it through to the semi-final of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod alongside Beth Haughan, pianist.  Here is where Samantha debuted the inclusion of  British Sign language into her performance, with the scope to make live concerts more accessible to people with hearing impediments, which is an area close to her heart.

Samantha also has a vehement passion for art song, being a semi-finalist within The London Song Fesitval 2022 and winning The Edward Brooke’s English Song Prize in 2019. She has recently launched her touring programme alongside the talented pianist Beth Haughan, ‘The Journey Home to the British Isles’, which explores this repertoire more by consisting of composers and poets born or resident, along the famous journey from John O’Groats to Lands End.

Inspired by her musical nan and rock musician father, she began her musical life as a chorister at the age of seven in Shropshire and has since featured as a soloist with many nationally acclaimed choirs, including The London Male Voice choir. She has also been a member of the Conservatoire’s Chamber Choir under Paul Spicer and Ex Cathedra under Jeffrey Skidmore, where she held a scholarship for the 2019-2020 season.

Away from her singing, Samantha enjoys cooking, playing video games and walking her two black Labradors, Rosie and Amber.