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 2024–2025 season, Smith made company debuts as Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia with both Annapolis Opera and Indianapolis Opera. He also appeared as the Father in Kurt Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins and as a tenor soloist in Carmina Burana, both with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, and sang the tenor solo in Mozart’s Requiem with the Syracuse Orchestra. He also took on the role of Tony in the Tony Award–winning play Master Class by Terrence McNally with Lean Ensemble Theater.
In summer 2024, he debuted at Des Moines Metro Opera as Mr. Sparhawk in the world premiere of American Apollo by Damien Geter and Lila Palmer, while also covering Count Almaviva. The previous summer, he made his Glimmerglass Festival debut as Tybalt in a new production of Roméo et Juliette and created the role of Frank in The Rip Van Winkles, a youth opera by Ben Morris and Laura Fuentes.
Other operatic highlights include Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore with Opera in the Heights, Arnalta in L’incoronazione di Poppea at Rice University, and Laurie (Little Women), Peter Quint (The Turn of the Screw), Alfred (Die Fledermaus), and Telemaco (Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria) at Temple University. He also performed Junior and Charlie in Jennifer Higdon’s Cold Mountain at the Music Academy of the West.
Originally from Quakertown, Pennsylvania, Smith began his musical journey in school choirs before discovering opera as a teenager. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from Temple University, where he studied with Marcus DeLoach, and a Master’s degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music under Grammy-winning soprano Ana María Martínez.
Smith is currently represented by Stratagem Artists and continues to captivate audiences with his vocal agility, expressive phrasing, and commitment to dynamic, honest storytelling.
