Photo by:Ernesto Mancebo
MEET OUR GUEST ARTISTS
Samantha McElhaney John is an American Soprano whose voice has been described as “one of those dramatic, heroic, and epic, full-throated voices that comes along once in a lifetime."
Samantha is an accomplished music performing artist, teaching professional, vocal coach and musical director who has traveled the world performing and teaching with an array of distinguished musicians and groups. Ms. McElhaney’s career has taken her to some of the world's best opera houses and concert halls. The balance of her authentic, powerful vocalism, sophisticated stage presence, and thrilling theatrical abilities, allows her to pursue a wide array of operatic depictions and to enchant audiences in concert and recital appearances worldwide. Her signature roles have brought Ms. McElhaney to the Washington National Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera Chicago, Toledo Opera, The Royal Danish Opera, Ft Worth Opera, Washington Symphony Orchestra and The National Symphony Orchestra; earning her numerous press acknowledgements and remarkable performance reviews.
Other significant engagements to Ms. McElhaney’s credit include concert soloist performances at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall, The Warner Theater, The National Cathedral, the Smithsonian, The Citadel in Cairo, Egypt, and the White House in her nation’s capital.
Samantha McElhaney is currently working on her CD project to be released in the Fall of 2025. She is also preparing to launch the World Stage Performing Arts Education Foundation (WSPAEF), a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering and advancing music education programs in schools and communities throughout the USA.
Ms. McElhaney graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio and a Master of Music degree from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland.
Pamela Simonson Parker, lyric soprano, author, and charity founder has been seen on stages
throughout the United States and Europe with the Washington National Opera, Lyric Opera of
Chicago, the San Francisco Opera, and the Glory Gospel Singers in productions including Don
Giovanni, Macbeth Porgy and Bess, Maid of Orleans, and La Clemenza di Tito. She is the Co-
Founder along with her brother musician Victor Simonson (first Black Conductor for “Hamilton”),
of the twenty-one year old non-profit 501c3 arts organization, CAAPA (Coalition for African
Americans in the Performing Arts) an organization dedicated in “Bringing Color to the Classics”
by supporting classical musicians of color and others in the performing arts.
Pamela has also performed with the Wolf Trap Opera Company in Carmen and Magic Flute and
has been a featured soprano with the American Center for Puccini Studies. Ms. Simonson also
was a featured soloist for The George Abbott Way, and was the guest soloist for the GE National
Convention, Washington, DC. She has also performed in concert halls and churches throughout
Europe with Joubert’s Glory Gospel Singers.
Additionally, Pamela’s stage and scene experience includes such roles as Despina in Cosi fan tutte,
Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, the Governess in Turn of the Screw, Suor Dolcina in Suor Angelica,
Achsah in Joshua, and she has performed in the chorus of Candide, Le Nozze di Figaro, and Les
Mamelles di Tirésias. She has also performed under the baton of the late Robert Shaw in
Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, performed in Showboat, Lucia di Lammermoor and Così Fan Tutte,
sung with Voices Saintpaulia, New York City, frequently performs the soprano solo in Handel’s
Messiah, and has served as Soprano Section Leader for New York and Washington, DC churches.
Pamela obtained degrees in Music including Bachelor of Music degree from Eastman School of
Music in Vocal Performance, Master of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music, NYC,
where she also served as Assistant to the Director for the Preparatory Division. She has a second
level of Professional Certification in Orff Schulwerk Music Studies from George Mason University,
VA and served as Director of Music at Henson Valley Montessori School and Director of Music for
the Camp Arena Stage, Washington, DC. She currently teaches music at the Maya Angelou French
Immersion School in Prince George’s County, MD. Pamela also conducts workshops, seminars,
and coaches private music students in the region.
Pamela was awarded the esteemed State of Maryland Music Educator’s Award for her work with
CAAPA and received the Prince George’s County “Forty Under 40” Award for her efforts in the
arts community. She is the co-author of the award-winning book “Pearls of Wisdom from Three
Generations” with her mother and grandmother. Pamela lives in Maryland with her husband
Richard.