About megan
“MEGAN SAMARIN AS CATO’S DAUGHTER WAS SIMPLY RADIANT AND ‘OWNED’ THE STAGE WITH A CONFIDENCE BOTH VOCALLY AND PHYSICALLY." – DC THEATER SCENE
Mezzo-Soprano Megan Mikailovna Samarin is returning to Houston Grand Opera for the fourth consecutive season to sing the role of Sesto in Julius Caesar, opening at the Resilience Theatre in the George R. Brown Convention Center, and Carla Mae in the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon’s The House Without a Christmas Tree. She will also be performing as Clara Schumann in "Loving Clara Schumann" with the Mercury Orchestra. This summer, Ms. Samarin will be returning to Wolf Trap Opera as Idamante in Mozart’s Idomeneo. Concert highlights include Wolf Trap Opera’s Aria Jukebox Concert as well as the Vocal Colors Recital at the Phillips Collection.
Last season at Houston Grand Opera included Siébel in Faust, Second Secretary in Nixon in China, and Wellgunde (cover) in Götterdämmerung, as well as a recital at the Rienzi Mansion where she performed the Norwegian song cycle "Haugtussa" by Edvard Grieg. Ms. Samarin also performed at Wolf Trap Opera as Baronessa Aspasia in La pietra del paragone, and Son in Glass/Moran’s The Juniper Tree.
Highlights from the 2015-16 season included singing Olga in Eugene Onegin, Lady Columbia in the world premiere of O Columbia, Third Wood Nymph in Rusalka, Lady Maresvale and Mistress Revels in the world premiere of Carlisle Floyd’s Prince of Players, and covered Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Fox in The Little Prince, and Julie Jordan in Carousel. Ms. Samarin made her Glimmerglass Festival debut as Marzia in the American premier of Vivaldi’s Cato in Utica. During the 2014-15 season Ms. Samarin made her Houston Grand Opera debut as Second Lady in The Magic Flute and Johanna in Sweeney Todd, also covering Dorabella in Così fan tutte as well as Suzukiin Madame Butterfly. Ms. Samarin also performed Angelina in Houston Grand Opera’s 60th Anniversary Concert featuring Joyce DiDonato as well as Romeoin a concert version of I Capuleti e I Montecchi at Aspen Music Festival. The 2012-13 season included singing La Marchande in Les mamelles de Tirésias at Wolf Trap Opera.
Ms. Samarin is a 2017 Gerda Lissner Foundation International Vocal Competition Second Place winner, and performed at Carnegie Hall for the Gerda Lissner Foundation Winners Concert. She is a 2016 Sara Tucker Study Grant Award Winner as well as a 2017 District Award winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. She was also a finalist in HGO’s Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert of Arias. Ms. Samarin is a Shoshana Foundation Richard F. Gold Career Grant recipient for both 2014 and 2016.
Ms. Samarin holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. She is alumna of the Houston Grand Opera’s Young Artists Vocal Academy and is a fellowship recipient of the Aspen Music Festival. Ms. Samarin is a former member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio.