​Kelly Slawson is turning heads with her shimmering prodigious sound - the voice of a true dramatic soprano. Her return to opera is already

proving to be grandiose, as she appeared as the title role of Turandot with St. Petersburg Opera Company to much acclaim. Recently, she was a finalist in the 2024 Wagner Society of New York Annual Singers' Competition held in Merkin Hall, where she received a grant from the judges' panel for her performance. The 2025-26 season begins with a bang, as Kelly brings her consummate skill and artistry to the titular role of Richard Strauss' Salome with Union Avenue Opera.

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Prior to the pandemic, Ms. Slawson appeared as Snow White in Disenchanted with Stray Dog Theatre, Florencia in Florencia en al Amazonas with Tulsa Opera, Elettra in Princeton Opera Alliance’s Idomeneo, and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with Lawrence Opera Theatre. She spent two seasons as an Apprentice Artist with Bel Canto at Caramoor at the Caramoor International Music Festival (2015-2016) and at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City (2011-2012), as well as appearing as a studio artist at Central City Opera in 2011. During her apprenticeship at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Kelly covered Pat Nixon in Nixon in China, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, and Lìu in Turandot.

 

An avid performer, Ms Slawson has been engaged as a multi-genre crossover artist, comfortable with contemporary, musical theater, and modern works.