Dr. Amanda Kosi

Dr. Amanda Kosi is a rising star in the opera world, captivating audiences with her lyric soprano voice. Hailing from Qonce in South Africa's Eastern Cape, Amanda has made her mark on stages across continents.

Amanda has showcased her versatility in a range of roles since 2016. Her performances include:

• Sister Margaretta in "The Sound of Music" (Playhouse Opera Theater)

• Maria in "West Side Story" (KZN Opera School and Southern Methodist University)

• Laurette in "Dr. Miracle" (Dallas Opera Education Program)

• Hester Prynne in "The Scarlet Letter" (University of Oklahoma Theater)

• Susannah in Carlisle Floyd's "Susannah" (University of Oklahoma Theater)

• Hanna Glawari in Franz Lehár's "The Merry Widow" (University of Oklahoma Theater)

Amanda's educational journey includes a B.A. with Honors from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa, a Master of Music from Southern Methodist University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK. While in Dallas, she won First Place in the TEXOMA Region NATS Voice Competition and received the Grady Harlan Award for outstanding career potential. 

Her talent has been recognized by prestigious institutions, including The Dallas Opera, where she performed from October 2019-2021. Amanda's rich repertoire also includes roles such as Pamina and First Lady in Mozart's "The Magic Flute", Nella in Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi", and Gilda in Verdi's "Rigoletto”.

Dr. Kosi is currently advancing innovative research and teaching in vocal performance with a focus on cultural diversity in the vocal arts. Her doctoral dissertation, titled Isandi Solwimi LwesiXhosa: A Vocal Western Classical Approach to Xhosa Language and Its Unique Click Sounds, bridges linguistic heritage and classical vocal pedagogy. She actively presents this work at colleges across America to promote understanding and inclusion of isiXhosa click sounds in Western classical singing. Through these efforts, Dr. Kosi integrates vocal pedagogy with ethnomusicology to enrich students’ learning experiences and diversify the voices represented in classical music.

Now based in Oklahoma City, Amanda continues to impress audiences and critics alike with her powerful performances and dedication to her craft.