Samuel Yair Betancourt Ortiz

He was born on November 10, 1998, in Pachuca, Hidalgo. His first foray into music came at the age of fifteen as a member of the Esperanza Azteca System Choir, with which he made his debut in 2015 at the Auditorio Nacional. That same year, he participated as a chorister in a choral version of the 1812 Overture, performing alongside the Carlos Chávez Orchestra School and the Symphonic Choir of the National System for Musical Development at the Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Over the years, as part of this ensemble, he took part in major symphonic-choral productions, performing works such as Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem, Ludwig van Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, and Joseph Haydn’s Missa in Angustiis at some of Mexico’s most prominent venues.

At the age of 19, he continued his vocal training through private instruction with distinguished teachers, including Olymar Salinas, Armando Piña, and Gabriela Herrera Castrillón. Later, in November 2022, he had his first experience with the operatic repertoire, performing as a chorister in Mozart’s Don Giovanni under the musical direction of Iván López Reynoso and the choral direction of Gabriela Herrera Castrillón.

In April 2024, he began a bachelor’s degree program in Music and Innovation at the Universidad Panamericana, subsequently supplementing his education with a diploma program at the same institution.

In 2025, he made his debut in a solo role, performing as Count Almaviva in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro at the Teatro de las Artes. The production featured musical direction by Luis Manuel Sánchez, stage direction by Mauricio García Lozano, and vocal preparation by Gabriela Herrera Castrillón. Additionally, under the direction and vocal coaching of Rogelio Riojas-Nolasco, he performed the roles of Capulet in Charles Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette and Giorgio Germont in Giuseppe Verdi’s La traviata.

He is currently a member of the opera studio Operísima, where he continues his artistic development and vocal refinement.