Jenni Samuelson is delighted to be performing once again with Santa Rosa Symphony.  She has performed operatic roles with several companies including San Francisco Opera Center, Cinnabar Opera, Chicago Light Opera Works, Opera San Jose, Eugene Opera, Skylight Opera of Milwaukee, and Western Opera Theater.  She has a wide variety of roles to her credit, among them are Despina (Cosi fan tutte), Belinda (Dido and Aeneus), Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro), Musetta (La Boheme), Rosina (The Barber of Seville), Nanetta (Falstaff), Belinda (Dido and Aneaus) and Adina (The Elixir of Love) and Betsy (Sweet Betsy from Pike).  Equally comfortable on the Musical Theater stage, she has appeared with companies in the bay area and across the country in roles such as Josephine (H.M.S. Pinafore), Laoula (L’Etoile), Phyllis (Iolanthe), Rosa (Mystery of Edwin Drood), Christine (Phantom) and Johanna (Sweeny Todd).

Now a mother of two, Jenni primarily performs concerts and recitals. She has been a featured soloist for concert works including Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 by Villo Lobos, Bach’s B minor Mass, Magnificat and Christmas Oratorio, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem and C minor Mass and Monteverdi’s Vespers 1610 with groups such as Sonoma Bach Society, San Francisco Chorale, Merced Symphony, Camarata Singers, and Santa Rosa Symphony. 

She is the recipient of several awards.  In 2001 she was granted the Virginia Bess Adams Fellowship to study and perform at the world renowned Carmel Bach Festival.  She is a three-time Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and a US Finalist in the Veronica Dunne International Voice Competition.  She has also received prizes in the Carmel Music Society Vocal Competition and the Palm Beach Opera International Voice Competition.

Jenni received her Bachelor’s degree in Musical Theater from Sonoma State University and a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from Northwestern University.