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’. Classical Music daily reviews Samantha's 'Cendrillon' as:  Cinders comes up with the most spectacular singing, at best in higher register, into the stratosphere. It was in those aery heights that Samantha shone most: truly astounding moments where her voice unveiled its really distinctive quality.

Samantha Lewis is a Shropshire mezzo-soprano celebrated for her warm, expressive tone, compelling stage presence, and deep commitment to making opera and song accessible to all.

A Masters and Advanced Postgraduate Diploma graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Samantha originally trained in Veterinary Science at Harper Adams University before pursuing her passion for music. She graduated with Distinction, receiving both the Postgraduate Course Prize and the St. Clare Barfield Rosebowl for Operatic Distinction.

Samantha is in growing demand as a recitalist, oratorio soloist, and operatic performer. Recent highlights include developing the roles of The Mother and The Witch in Hänsel und Gretel (Humperdinck) and being Alto Soloist in a fully staged Messiah (Handel) with The Merry Opera Company (TMOC, 2025). Other notable roles include Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel), Cendrillon (Cendrillon, Massenet), Martha (Iolanta, Tchaikovsky), Mercédès (Carmen, Bizet) with NWOS, Mary Magdalene (St John Passion, Bach), and Dorabella(Così fan tutte, Mozart) with Cumbria Opera Group, as well as Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro), La Zelatrice (Suor Angelica), Mother/Other Mother (Coraline, Turnage), and Fanny Price (Mansfield Park, Dove). Samantha was selected for the Royal Opera House’s Jette Parker Artist Programme Mentorship Scheme, where she was mentored by acclaimed Australian soprano Lauren Fagen.

Passionate about accessibility and inclusion in classical music, Samantha actively incorporates British Sign Language (BSL) into her performances, using visual communication to enhance emotional expression and connect with deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences. Her innovative work took her to the Semi-Final of both the Pendine International Voice of the Future Competition (2022), as well as the London Song Festival Competition. A keen advocate of art song, Samantha was a Song Easel Young Artist (2025), performing Schumann’s Liederkreis, Op. 24, and was winner of The Edward Brooks English Song Prize. She has also recently become Director of Music at St. Oswalds Parish Church, Oswestry and has since been sharing the gift of sign through music.

Samantha is currently touring a recital programme celebrating composers and poets from along the route between John O’Groats and Land’s End. This project lies at the heart of her artistic mission: to bring classical music and poetry to communities who may not otherwise experience live performance, to celebrate regional cultural heritage, and to foster accessibility and connection through inclusivity. She looks forward to bringing this to The Whittington Music Festival in May 2026, which will be the first festival to actively support signed performances throughout the series, by the singer themselves.