Biography

Samantha McGonigal is an up and coming mezzo-soprano based in Chicago, Illinois, where she recently graduated with a Masters of Music in Voice Performance from DePaul University. Samantha also holds a Bachelors of Music from Otterbein University in her home state of Ohio. Her recent operatic roles include La Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica), Orfeo (Orfeo ed Euridice), Die Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflöte), and Ruth (Dark Sisters-Nico Muhly). This Summer, Samantha joined Opera Festival Chicago as a Young Artist, where she sang in the chorus of Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci and Montemezzi’s L’amore dei tre rei, and covered the role of La Vecchia (L’amore dei tre rei).

In 2025, Samantha will make her Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as a member of the Supplemental Chorus. She will perform in the double bill of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci, as well as Carmina Burana, and will cover the role of Bernice Barbelle in Lyric Unlimited’s outreach production of Katie: The Strongest of the Strong by Faye Chiao. She will also be featured in Opera Aeterna’s production of Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta in the role of Marthe. In 2026, Samantha will join Sarasota Opera as an Apprentice Artist, performing in various capacities in their four mainstage productions as well as scenes programs and recitals.

Samantha has enjoyed several performances in concert and choral works. At DePaul, she has performed solos in Carl Maria Von Weber’s Agnus Dei, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Giovanni Perotti’s Vespero, and in Craig Hella Johnson’s Considering Matthew Shepard. In 2023, she was a soloist with the Westerville Symphony in their performance of Orff’s Carmina Burana, and sang solo excerpts from Messiah on their 2022 holiday concert. Previous chorus work includes Tosca with Opera Columbus, Mozart’s Requiem and Haydn’s Te Deum with the Westerville Symphony.