Mark Sampson is an opera singer, pedagogue, and artistic director with an international career spanning performance, education, and leadership. He was educated at the University of British Columbia, the Accademia di Belle Arti di L'Aquila, Indiana University Bloomington, Opera Lyra Ottawa, the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Leipzig, and the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Rostock.

As a singer, Mr. Sampson made his European debut as Filippo II in Madrid, which led to subsequent fest engagements at German A- and B-level opera houses. He has sung a broad range of roles; at these houses, favorites have included Sarastro, Don Giovanni, Leporello, Figaro, Guglielmo, Don Alfonso, and Zaccaria. In parallel, he has appeared in musical theatre productions including Around the World in 80 Days and Jesus Christ Superstar in Vienna, with special guests Sir Tim Rice and Stephen Schwartz.

Mr. Sampson is the founder and artistic director of Berlin Opera Academy and Saluzzo Opera Academy, and has also founded or co-founded other academies that remain actively running in five different cities. His students include three winners of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and many others performing at major international houses including the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Semperoper Dresden, and Houston Grand Opera, among many others.

Mr. Sampson has lectured and taught at leading institutions and conservatories including the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, the Manhattan School of Music, the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Leipzig, and other professional training programs internationally.

Outside of performance, Mr. Sampson holds academic degrees in mathematics, pedagogy, and vocal performance. He is fluent in English, French, German, and Italian, has won international mathematics and physics competitions, is an avid hockey player, has run a marathon, and made an attempt on Mount Everest.