Samantha Kantak, soprano, is a doctoral student at the University of North Texas where she studies under Carol Wilson. She is a winner of the UNT Concerto Competition and a recipient of the highly-competitive Robert B. Toulouse Fellowship.
Ms. Kantak’s affinity for 20th and 21st century American works has inspired collaboration with composers and chamber musicians on premieres of new works including: Benjamin Shirey’s Transient Delete, Ermir Bejo’s Catullo Songs, Qi Shen’s Summer Moonlight, Brad Robin’s Limud, Larry Reed’s My Heart and I, Pan Xingzimin’s Three Sarcastic Songs, and Amber Zingler’s Particles.
Her operatic performances include the title roles of Suor Angelica and Dido as well as Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Giulietta (Les contes d’Hoffmann), Nerone (L’incoronazione di Poppea), Nora (Riders to the Sea), and Geraldine (A Hand of Bridge).
On the concert stage, Ms. Kantak has been a featured soloist in Vaughan Williams’s Hodie, Ticheli’s Angels in the Architecture, Brahms’s Ein deutsches Requiem, and Harbison’s Mirabai Songs. She recently made her debut with the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra, the McCall Music Society, and Chelsea Opera. She will be performing the role of Contessa Almaviva in UNT’s November production of Le nozze di Figaro.