Mezzo-soprano Samantha Korbey has been hailed by the New York Post as a, “distinctive mezzo with star potential.” In the 2014-2015 season Samantha joined the Teatro Regio di Torino in Italy to perform numerous roles including Emilia in Verdi’s Otello, Cherubino in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Zaida in Rossini’s Il turco in Italia, Enrichetta in Bellini’s I Puritani, Marthe in Gounod’s Faust, Clotilda in Bellini’s Norma, and Flora in Verdi’s La Traviata. Samantha’s other recent engagements include Alma Hix in The Music Man with The Glimmerglass Opera Festival, and the roles of Maddalena in Rigoletto, and Carmen in La Tragédie de Carmen both with Pensacola Opera. At the Manhattan School of Music she performed Alkandre in Fauré’s Pénélope, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, and Mrs. Bassett in Hoiby’s Summer and Smoke, which was recorded by Albany Records.  For the Chautauqua Institute, Ms. Korbey reprised her performance as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro. As an Apprentice Artist at Pittsburgh Opera, Samantha was seen on their stage as Aglaonice in Philip Glass’ Orphée, Maddalena in Rigoletto, (in which Opera Pulse praised her “fantastic instrument”) Presendia in Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters, in the triple role of The Drawing Teacher/Opera Singer #2/Maid #2 in Gregory Spears’ Paul’s Case, Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte, Fidalma in Il Matrimonio Segreto, and Tisbe in La Cenerentola. From her performance as Tisbe, the Pittsburgh Tribune raved: “Samantha Korbey gave [a] big-league performance as the stepsister…up to the level of the more experienced members of the cast in coloratura and stage presence.” Additionally, during the summer of 2013 Samantha Korbey joined the Apprentice Program of Santa Fe Opera, performing as the Bridesmaid in their main stage production of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, and as Cherubino in an excerpt from The Ghosts of Versailles.
On the concert stage Ms. Korbey has sung under the baton of Kent Tritle performing Mozart’s Requiem, and as soloist in other works including Handel’s Israel in Egypt with the Hunter College Symphony and Haydn’s Nelsonmesse with the Astoria Symphony. Ms. Korbey has earned many accolades: 2014 winner of The Opera Foundation Competition, a 2011 winner of the Jaon Taub and Alan Ades Vocal Competition, a recipient of a career development award from the Sullivan Foundation, and a regional finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. From 2009-2011 Ms. Korbey was a graduate student at the Manhattan School of Music where she completed a Master’s Degree under the tutelage of Marlena Malas. Samantha also holds a 3rd degree black belt in traditional Japanese Karate and taught the art form for many years prior to singing opera.