Spotlight on... Samantha Hankey

Samantha Hankey’s list of awards, performances and roles is so impressive, you might be hardpushed to believe she only graduated from her Master’s degree at Juilliard this time last year. Since then, she has won first prize in the inaugural Glyndebourne Cup, the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and the Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition, as well as receiving a Richard Tucker Career Grant.

The 26-year-old Massachusetts native has already made European debuts in both Oslo and Geneva, and will perform no less than five roles at the Met next season, her debut there. She even has a role that was written for her; the title role in David Hertzberg’s The Rose Elf, which receives its world-premiere performance in the underground catacombs at Brooklyn’s Green- Wood cemetery this June.

Was it a conscious decision to pursue competitions over, say, a young artist programme? “[A YAP is] not something I necessarily wanted to do” she told OperaWire in January, “I think having been at Juilliard for six years I wanted to go out and explore what I can do with my training and in that regard doing [the Met Council auditions] really helped me.”

© Dario Acosta

It seems she can do rather a lot! We caught up with Samantha for a few questions.

Where did it all begin? Why music?

I was in the chorus of a local production of Annie when I was six! I fell in love with singing and asked my mum to take me to voice lessons, which led to choir, performing arts high school and I just never stopped!

What do you love most about your career?

All of the adventures and challenges! I love that every day is a bit different; the rehearsal schedule changes, some days there are lessons, travel, days off… I feel I’m well suited to these changes. I couldn’t picture myself sitting at a computer all day, five days a week.

Best musical advice received?

Accept all of the advice that is given to you, respectfully, but afterwards, take away only what you need, you can use, and what resonates for you.

Most memorable experience as an audience member?

Seeing Jessye Norman perform songs of John Cage at Carnegie Hall in 2012. I never thought I would see her perform live and she was everything I had imagined she would be.

Last thing you listened to?

Some Gamelan music, a song called Jadra Parwata. It’s part of my preperformance ritual.

Who would you invite to your ideal dinner party, living or dead?

Definitely Mozart- I think he’d be the life of the party!

Musical heroes?

Tatiana Troyanos, Jessye Norman, and Prokofiev.

Career plan B?

I’m pretty sure I would do something that involves helping animals, being out in nature, or for the environment. Perhaps a wildlife ranger or focused in marine life conservation!

And finally, which other talent would you most like to have?

What I would give to be able to dance!