“Mr. Harouna is a supremely talented Apprentice Artist, and his rolling, mature baritone was invested with beautiful phrasing, controlled delivery and commendable character delineation.” (Opera Today).

Sankara Harouna’s musical journey began in the traditional arts of West African culture, music, and drumming. He has also performed across the United States, singing in a variety of styles including jazz, gospel, and classical.

A native of the South Side of Chicago, Harouna recently made a triumphant debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, double cast as Benny “Kid” Paret and his son Benny Jr. in Terence Blanchard’s Champion: “considering he was a last-minute replacement announced from the stage, baritone Sankara Harouna is nothing short of spectacular as Paret and his son.” (Chicago Sun-Times).

Sankara Harouna was an Artist-in-Residence for Dayton Opera during the 2022–2023 season. Upcoming, he joins the prestigious Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

This season, Harouna joined Portland Opera as a Resident Artist where he was seen in Le nozze di Figaro (Antonio) and The Snowy Day (Daddy). He also joined Greensboro Opera in David Conte’s The Gift of the Magi (Jim). At Des Moines Metro Opera, as part of the Frank R. Brownell III Apprentice Artist Program, Harouna performed in Carmen (Moralès) and Redler’s The Falling and the Rising (Homecoming Soldier).

In previous seasons, Harouna joined the Atlanta Opera for Il barbiere di Siviglia (Fiorello) and The Pirates of Penzance (Samuel); Dayton Opera for L’elisir d’amore (Belcore) and Charlie Parker’s Yardbird (Dizzy Gillespie); Kentucky Opera for La Cenerentola (Dandini cover), Dead Man Walking (1st Prison Guard), and Amahl and the Night Visitors (Page); and Cincinnati Opera for Il barbiere di Siviglia (Officer) and the World Premier of Blind Injustice (Derrick Wheatt). In concert, he performed in Stained Glass Concerts and the Mozart Missa Brevis with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.

Harouna was awarded a Career Development Grant in the 2023 William Matheus Sullivan Musical Foundation. He was previously a member of both the Glynn Studio Artist with Atlanta Opera and the Barbara & Halsey Sanford Studio Artist with Kentucky Opera. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Music in Vocal Performance at Kentucky State University. He is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated.