Biography

Adeniyi Samuel is a versatile bass-baritone who has been hailed for his expressive ability as a singer and whose musical interest covers a range of Western and African genres. A few of his past opera and musical theater roles include Bartolo in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Baron Campo-Tasso in Offenbach’s The Brigands, Arkel in Debussy’s Impression de Pelléas, Frank (cover) in Die Fledermaus by Strauss Jr. He performed Benoit in Puccini’s La bohème with the Comic Opera Company, Lagos, Nigeria, and as Krušina in Smetana’s Bartered Bride with the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Choir Opera. In 2022, Adeniyi featured as the Psalmist in the 30th anniversary of Cry Innocent, produced by History Alive, a theatrical adaptation of the Salem, MA witch trial of 1692. He played Sam in Two Point Off the Weather Bow and arranged music for the play, No Ghost in the Old Town Hall with History Alive. In 2019, Adeniyi played Reverend Crisparkle in The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens and Lighttoller in Titanic the Musical by Peter Stone. He starred as Athumani Phillip in This is Not a Bill by Alexia Rowe with History Alive Theatre Company, Salem MA, and as Alabi in The Journey to Africa by Lydia Adesina with African Broadway, NY. Adeniyi’s opera scene roles include Blitch in Floyd’s Susannah, Count Robinson in Cimarosa’s Il matrimonio segreto at Temple University opera workshop, Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Doctor Malatesta in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, and Don Alfonso in Mozart’s Così fan tutte at the MUSON School of Music, Nigeria.

Adeniyi has worked with various directors, such as Jeffery Miller, Copeland Woodruff, Kristina Stevick, and Brandon McShaffery. He has also worked with conductors Joseph Mechavich, Michael Vollhardt, and Michael Sakir. Adeniyi sang in various masterclasses for acclaimed singers such as Lester Lynch, Michael Meraw, James Demler, Grammy-award winner Kevin McMillian, and two-time Grammy nominee Stephen Powell, to name a few.

Adeniyi’s musical journey started in his home country, Lagos, Nigeria, where he worked as a lead singer with diverse recording bands; performing various repertoires of different musical styles at events and concerts, not limited to gospel music. He worked as a background vocalist for various professional artists, as a voice-over artist, and taught singing, piano, and the theory of music at his private studio and a few music academies in the city. He studied Radio Presentation at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and interned at The Voice of Nigeria. He earned his Associate of Music in Vocal Performance/Music Education from MUSON in 2015, where he studied with Sir. Emeka Nwokedi and Joseph Oparamanuike, also won the best Male Operatic Voice at graduation. He also holds various music certifications; grade 8 in Singing, grade 5 in Piano and Clarinet from the Association Board of Royal School of Music (ABRSM), and grade 8 in the Theory of Music from Trinity Music Examination Board, London.

He later moved to the United States to further his studies and career. He studied with Katherine Whyte for his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and minor in Theater Arts from Gordon College, Massachusetts, where he also served on the Music Student Council. He received the Evangelyne Etienne award and a Presidential Honor for his academic and performance excellence. He earned his Master of Music in Vocal Performance under Dr. Marcus DeLoach at Temple University and received The Dean Emeritus Helen Laird Voice and Opera Graduate Award in his first semester. In October 2021, he won first place in the Adult Classical TBB Voice category at the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS).

Besides performing opera and musical theater roles, Adeniyi has a long history of directing church music, leading worship, and as a music consultant at diverse denominations, as a soloist at various events, concerts, and recitals, singing classical, contemporary, gospel, and jazz, African music. He also teaches individual voice and piano lessons and produces his music from his home studio. Adeniyi founded and registered his music company in Nigeria in 2016, named SamOye Musical Consort, providing music performances, recording, and music education.