Dr. Amanda Russo Stante is a lyric mezzo-soprano celebrated for her “highly theatrical, vocally persuasive” performances that are “nothing short of stunning” (Herald Times, Bloomington, IN). Known for her vocal richness and dramatic range, Amanda has captivated audiences in both feminine and trouser roles. Favorite performances include the title roles in Handel’s Serse and Massenet’s Cendrillon, Hansel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Octavian in Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier, and Isabella in Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri.

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Equally at home on the concert and recital stage, Amanda’s repertoire spans a wide range of composers and styles—from Elgar’s Sea Pictures and Mahler’s Rückert Lieder to Britten’s Canticle II, Corigliano’s Fern Hill, and Ravel’s Shéhérazade. She has appeared with ensembles such as The Glimmerglass Festival, Central City Opera, and Indiana University Opera Theater, and as a soloist with orchestras including the Budapest Concert Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and Akron Symphony Orchestra. Her performances have taken her across the United States and Europe, earning acclaim for her artistry and expressive storytelling.

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A dedicated educator, Amanda serves as Assistant Professor of Music (Voice) at Susquehanna University, where she teaches applied voice, diction, pedagogy, and vocal literature, and directs opera scenes. She regularly leads Movement for Musicians workshops and presents on topics related to performance and vocal wellness. An active member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), she has presented at chapter auditions and conferences and will co-host the 2026 NATS Eastern Region Conference at Susquehanna University.

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Before joining Susquehanna, Amanda taught at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and Indiana State University, and served on the faculties of Carnegie Mellon University’s Pre-College Program and the IU College Audition Preparation Workshop. She also served as stage director and board member for Reimagining Opera for Kids (ROK), a Bloomington-based opera outreach organization bringing live operatic performance to young audiences.

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A Pittsburgh native, Amanda earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Voice Performance with a minor in German from Carnegie Mellon University and her Master and Doctor of Music degrees from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

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Amanda lives in Selinsgrove, PA with her husband, Jon, and their two children.