Hailing from the Southside of Chicago, baritone Sankara Harouna, began his musical journey in the traditional arts of West African culture, music and drumming. He went on to study music at Kentucky State University. For Dayton Opera this season he sings Dizzy Gillespie in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird and will be an Artist in Residence singing Belcore in their touring version of The Elixir of Love. This summer he sang Nelson in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess with Des Moines Metro Opera and was a member of their Apprentice Artist Program. Recent credits include his Atlanta Opera debut as Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance and Fiorello in The Barber of Seville. For Cincinnati Opera he sang The Officer in The Barber of Seville and the role of Derrick Wheatt in the World Premiere of Blind Injustice. Upcoming will be a return to Kentucky Opera for The Gift of the Magi and La Cenerentola and to The Atlanta Opera for The Snowy Day.