American tenor Hayden Smith, praised for his “burnished tenor blessed with technique and glorious phrasing” (Houston Press), is quickly establishing himself as a standout interpreter of bel canto, early music, and contemporary opera.
In the 2025–2026 season, he makes his role and company debut with Fargo-Moorhead Opera as Alfredo in La Traviata, followed by company debuts with Opera Modesto as Prince Charmant in Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon and Opera Baltimore as Gennaro in Lucrezia Borgia. On the concert stage, he appears as the tenor soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with the Syracuse Orchestra and has recently performed Carmina Burana and Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra.
Recent seasons have included company debuts with Annapolis Opera and Indianapolis Opera as Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia; the role of Tony in Terrence McNally’s Master Class with Lean Ensemble Theater; and an appearance with Des Moines Metro Opera as Mr. Sparhawk in the world premiere of Damien Geter and Lila Palmer’s American Apollo, where he also covered Almaviva. He made his Glimmerglass Festival debut as Tybalt in Roméo et Juliette and created the role of Frank in The Rip Van Winkles.
A native of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, Smith holds degrees in Vocal Performance from Temple University and Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he studied with Grammy Award–winning soprano Ana María Martínez. He has trained with Wolf Trap Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, Des Moines Metro Opera, and the Music Academy of the West, and is a 2023 District Winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition (Houston).
Alongside his performing career, Smith maintains a private voice studio that serves singers of all levels through in-person and online lessons. His teaching emphasizes curiosity, vocal health, and artistry—helping each singer find their most authentic sound.
