Kelly Guerra
Mezzo-Soprano
Peruvian-American mezzo-soprano Kelly Guerra is widely recognized for her distinctive voice,described as “rich and sultry, radiating warmth and power, with a smoky timbre” Isthmus News (2025).
Guerra is known for bringing passion and nuance to her performances. Her 2024-25 season features a diverse array of roles. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut as one of the Niñas in Golijov’s flamenco opera Ainadamar, directed and choreographed by Deborah Colker, Jo March in Mark Adamo’s Little Women with Fort Worth Opera, the alto soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Glacier Symphony, Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Las Vegas, Isabella in L’Italiana in Algeri with Anchorage Opera and Opera in the Heights, María in María de Buenos Aires with Madison Opera, Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Scalia/Ginsburg with Raylynmor Opera, and Mrs. Fox in Fantastic Mr. Fox with Opera Omaha.
In fall of 2025 she portrays the iconic activist Dolores Huerta in the premieres of Dolores by Nicolás Lell Benavides and Marella Martin Koch at West Edge Opera and Opera Southwest, a co- commission with San Diego Opera and the Broad Stage in Santa Monica. Fall 2025 she will also sing Mercedes and cover Carmen in Carmen with Gulfshore Opera. In 2026 she makes a role debut as Sesto in Giulio Cesare with Opera Santa Barbara and will make her Pacific Opera Project debut as Carlota de Obragón in Zorro.
Guerra’s versatility extends to many styles and eras of vocal music, from Mozart to Sondheim to Héctor Lavoe. She made her Los Angeles Philharmonic debut under John Adams and premiered Katherine Balch’s orchestral song cycle Illuminate with the California Symphony. In Summer 2024, Kelly honed her musical theatre skills with Lindsay Mendez and Ryan Scott Oliver’s Actor Therapy. Her performances as Lupita and Renata in the mariachi opera Cruzar la Cara de la Luna earned her praise as“brilliant” and “exquisite.” Guerra also toured in Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding’s (...Iphigenia), her role as Iphigenia Unbound noted as “beautifully sung” bythe Washington Post.
As a recitalist, Guerra has been featured at the Lucerne Festival, Tanglewood Music Center, and Bard Music Festival. As a first generation American and native of Southern California, Guerra's work focuses on promoting Spanish-language and contemporary repertoire, with a commitment to making the concert hall more inclusive.
Photo by Zach Mendez
Photo by Zach Mendez
Photo by Ethan Carlson
Photo by Ethan Carlson