Biography

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).

A versatile and passionate performer, she has emerged as a compelling presence on today’s operatic stage.

This season, Ms. Guerra created the role of Macaria in Austin Opera's world premiere of Ofrenda by Jorge Sosa and John de los Santos. The Wall Street Journal wrote, “Kelly Guerra was an affecting, complex Macaria, her luminous mezzo making an eloquent contrast…”  Additionally this fall Kelly makes a cast recording plus performances of Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding's ...(Iphigenia) in Poland and Belgium.

In 2027, the mezzo-soprano returns to Opera Southwest for a New Year’s Eve gala concert, sings the title role in María de Buenos Aires with Opera Orlando, makes a role debut as Carmen with Opera San José, and joins the York Symphony Orchestra as alto soloist in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.

Highlights of Guerra's 2025-26 season included the premiere of a new opera about iconic Chicana activist Dolores Huerta with West Edge Opera and Opera Southwest, her Carnegie Hall debut with PARMA Recordings, a role debut as Pasekh Alef in The Great American Yiddish Dictionary with American Opera Projects, and appearances with Gulfshore Opera. She sang Sesto in Giulio Cesare with Opera Santa Barbara, Franca Naccarelli in The Light in the Piazza at Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

In 2024-25 Kelly made her Metropolitan Opera debut as one of the Niñas in Golijov's flamenco opera Ainadamar, directed and choreographed by Deborah Colker. She sang Jo March in Little Women with Fort Worth Opera, was the alto soloist in Handel's Messiah with 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. 

This artist’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 (...Iphigenia), her role as Iphigenia Unbound noted as "beautifully sung" by the Washington Post.

As a recitalist, Guerra has been featured at the Lucerne Festival, Tanglewood Music Center, and Bard Music Festival, and the Julian Autrey Foundation. A first-generation American and Southern California native, she performs a wide range of standard repertoire while promoting Spanish-language and contemporary works and fostering a more inclusive concert hall.