Roles: Mama, the Teacup, the Dragonfly

A native of Sabah, Malaysia, mezzo-soprano Samantha Chong’s repertoire ranges from early music, oratorio, songs, opera to contemporary works. Samantha is the winner of the inaugural ASEAN Vocal competition, organised by Singapore Lyric Opera in 2016. She is also the 1st prize winner of the 41st National Singing Competition of Malaysia in 2015. Post graduation, she jump started her career as a soloist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera Hong Kong, Hong Kong Grand Opera and Musica Viva. Samantha made her Italian debut in 2019 with Teatro Petruzzelli, singing Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Recently, she was invited to perform at the opening concert of Edinburgh International Festival, singing Tan Dun’s Buddha’s Passion. Cumulatively, Samantha has worked with Erasmus Orchestra, Hong Kong Art Festival, Macao Orchestra, Hong Kong – Vienna Music Festival, Kuala Lumpur City Opera, Singapore Lyric Opera, Virama Music Malaysia, China Sichuan Music Conservatory and Mozart Festival in Shenzhen, China.

Her opera credits include Carmen in Bizet’s Carmen, Rosina in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Angelika in La Cenerentola, Suzuki in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Prince Orlovsky in J.Strauss’s Die Fledermaus, Stephano in Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette, Elisabetta in Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda, Hanna Glawari in Lehar’s The Merry Widow, Fox Goldenmane in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen and many more.

Samantha has also appeared as a soloist in Mahler’s Symphony No.8 and Das Lied von der Erde,  Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 and Missa Solemnis, Händel’s Messiah, Mozart’s C Minor Mass, Max Reger’s Hebbel Requiem, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Bach’s St. Markus Passion and B minor mass.

Samantha has grown to appreciate and enjoy performing newly composed operas and symphonic works. She was Zheng Yi-sao in Legend of Zhang Bao-zai, Hotel Attendant in Beauty and Sadness (world premiere) , Huang in Legend of Phoenix (world premiere), Yu in Women Like Us (world premier) , and Sect-mother in Kungfood (world premier).  On the concert platform, she is Saint Cecilia of The Martyrdom of Saint Cecilia (world premiere) and Magnificat from a Garden in the Antipodes (Asia premiere).

Samantha’s recent performances include Philip Glass’s Book of Longing, Vitellia in La Clemenza di Tito, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, Maman in L’enfant et les Sortileges, Mozart’s Requiem and Bach’s Easter Oratorio.

Samantha has a Master of Music degree and a Bachelor of Music degree, both from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA). She was the recipient of the FAMA Scholarship, John Hosier Trust Scholarship 2012 and Aedas Scholarship. Samantha was selected as a member of the 2015-2018 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Opera Hong Kong Young Artist Development Programme. Samantha is currently a faculty member at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.