Biography

Samuel Cook attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University where he earned his Bachelors degree in music. He finished his musical studies at Indiana University, where he obtained his Masters degree. He continued his vocal training with the world famous tenor, Carlo Bergonzi & Soprano Renata Tebaldzi in Busetto, Italy. He is a winner of numerous prestigious international voice competitions. Among them; First prizes in Francisco Viñes, in Barcelona, Spain; The Francisco Andrade voice competition in Porto, Portugal. and Third Prize in Munich's International music competition and South Africa voice competition.

Among Samuel's extensive operatic success, roles include the Duke in Rigoletto, with the Sacramento Opera. Nemorino in "L'Elisir D'amore with Capeb Opera in Cape Town S. Africa, and also La Coruña, Spain. He has performed the role of Narciso, in Rossini's" Il Turco in Italia", with The Chicago Opera. The role of Count Almaviva in "Il Barbiere di Sivilia" with the State opera of Prague, Czech Republic, and as Belmonte in Mozart's "Die Entführung aus dem Serail" in Bregenz, Austria. Recent operatic engagements include appearances with the Abilene Opera where he performed the role of the Don Jose in Carmen. Other recent roles that Mr. Cook has performed are; Alfredo in La Traviata and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni.

Not only has Mr. Cook appeared as an operatic performer, he has performed internationally as a sensitive song and lieder recitalist, and solo concert artist. His recital programs encompass an intriguing and varied repertoire that include songs from the Bel Canto period, to Liszt's romantic Sonetti di Petrarca. Samuel also sings a rich and heart rendering concert of newly arranged Negro spirituals.

After residing with his family in Europe for more than Ten years and enjoying a successful career as operatic and concert soloist Mr. Cook and his family moved to Abilene, TX. He is currently professor of Voice\Artist in Residence at Abilene Christian University.

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