Sabina Balsamo

Sabina Balsamo is a versatile operatic soprano, bringing depth of character and playfulness to performances in opera, musical theater, concert and recital settings.

In the summer of 2026, she joined the Central City Opera as an apprentice artist, appearing as Sophie De Palma in "Master Class," a play by Terrence McNally. She is currently a graduate assistant pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

In addition to traditional roles such as Susanna in "Le nozze di Figaro," she has created characters in new works like Margery Mansfield in Leanna Kirchoff's "Welcome to the Madness" (Opera Steamboat) and Angustias in Griffin Candey's "The House of Bernarda Alba" (Cleveland Opera Theater). In 2023, she produced, recorded and premiered the chamber opera "Colorado Sky" by Ben Morris and Laura Fuentes. Award-winning composer Tom Cipullo described her performance in "Colorado Sky" as "brilliant, assured, and deeply moving."

Balsamo has also workshopped roles in several new operas, including Vicky Hobson in Tom Cipullo's "Hobson's Choice" with CU NOW, and most recently Mamselle in Gregory Spears' "Sleepers Awake" with Cincinnati Opera, Opera Fusion: New Works in 2025. 

Balsamo has commissioned several works to expand the chamber music repertoire for soprano and cello and has produced two albums: "Colorado Sky" and "In Time." In 2020, she co-founded Sohap Ensemble, a group that presents contemporary classical music in concert and educational settings. To date, Sohap has performed nine chamber music concerts and premiered six new works, collaborating with notable musicians such as singers Andrew Garland and John Seesholtz, as well as composers Ben Morris and Griffin Candey.

Performance highlights include: Pamina in "The Magic Flute," Susanna in "Le Nozze di Figaro," Sandman/Dew Fairy in "Hänsel und Gretel," the title role in "Manon" (concert), Nella (cover) in "Gianni Schicchi," Rose in "At the Statue of Venus," Baby Doe (cover) in "The Ballad of Baby Doe," Mabel in "The Pirates of Penzance," Elsie in "The Yeomen of The Guard," Rose in "Ruddigore," Clara in "It's a Wonderful Life," Governess in "The Turn of the Screw," Blanche in "Dialogues of the Carmelites" and Polly in "The Threepenny Opera."

On the concert stage, recent solo engagements include Haydn's "Paukenmesse" with the Dayton Bach Society, Haydn's "Harmoniemesse" and Mendelssohn's "Lobgesang Cantata" with Musica Sacra in Cincinnati, and the University of Wyoming's performance of "Addio, del passato" from "La Traviata" and the Mozart "Requiem," which she sang again with the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs in January 2025. She was a soloist at the Boulder Bach Festival in 2022 and performed with the CU Boulder University Orchestra after winning their Honors Competition in 2018.

A multifaceted performer, Balsamo is at home in various musical styles. She has taken on roles such as Fredrika in "A Little Night Music" and Micky in a gender-bending production of "Damn Yankees" with Pittsburgh Festival Opera. Her versatility extends to cabaret performances, where she has showcased cabaret, Broadway and jazz repertoire.

In 2023, Balsamo was a soloist with Central City Opera's Lyric Theater Singers and joined their outreach group in 2024, presenting a program meant to support teens in mental health crises. She also appeared as a soloist in their 2024 Gala. With the Sohap Ensemble, she led a contemporary music workshop centered on Jessie Montgomery's "Loisaida, My Love," exploring extended techniques and fostering creativity across artistic mediums for middle and high school students.

She served as a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Colorado Boulder. From 2022 to 2024, she was a member of the voice faculty at the University of Wyoming. Find out more at sabinabalsamo.com.