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The American bass-baritone and music pedagogue, Roy Samuelsen, has performed as a professional opera, concert, and recital singer, opera and oratorio roles throughout the world. He is known for his powerful bass-baritone voice and commanding stage presence, and has sung lyric baritone, heldenbaritone, and basso cantante roles.
Roy Samuelsen was Professor of music and resident artist at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music from 1961 until his retirement. He appeared at the Indiana University Opera Theater in 34 different operas, was known for his many opera and concert performances and 19 years as the Star Spangled Banner singer for home basketball games. During his tenure at Indiana University he also gave dramatic performances.in a large number of operatic roles with the New York City Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Kansas City Lyric Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Utah Opera, Dallas Opera, Kentucky Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Norwegian Royal Opera and many other companies, specializing in the Wagner roles. He has performed concerts and oratorios with many orchestras throughout the world and specializes in Grieg and other Scandinavian masters along with the standard recital repertoire.
In 1997, Roy Samuelsen retired from Indiana University after 34 years as artist teacher in the School of Music, but continues to perform recital programs throughout the world. For exampole, in November 2008 he presentd a programme of Norwegian songs, including a group of Edvard Grieg's most beloved songs, accompanied by Lewis Rowell, and also accompanied himself on the guitar for a group of Norwegian songs. Roy and his wife Mary established the Roy and Mary Samuelsen Scholarship to help deserving young singers achieve their goals in the field of vocal performance. He and his wife of fifty years have three children and thirteen grandchildren. He also enjoys his many volunteer callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as well as his life long hobby of photography and working in his workshop. He published With a Song in My Heart: Reflections on 50 Years of Teaching and Performing (Norlightspress.Com, 2010). He currently serves on the faculty of the University of Indianapolis as Distinguished Visiting Professor. |
