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, Guerra has emerged as a compelling and influential presence on the operatic stage.
Her 2025-2026 season has included the premiere of the new opera about the iconic Chicana activist Dolores by Nicolás Lell Benavides and Marella Martin Koch at West Edge Opera and Opera Southwest, the premiere of The Great American Yiddish Dictionary with American Opera Projects and singing Mercedes while covering Carmen in Carmen with Gulfshore Opera. In January, Kelly made her Carnegie Hall debut in a concert with PARMA recordings. In the spring and summer of 2026 Kelly looks forward to singing Sesto in Giulio Cesare with Opera Santa Barbara, Franca Naccarelli in The Light in the Piazza with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Ariel in The Tempest by Joseph Summer at Teatro Grattacielo.
Her 2024-25 season featured a diverse array of roles. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut as one of the Niñas in Golijov's flamenco opera Ainadamar, 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.
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. 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" 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. As a first-generation American and native of Southern California, her work focuses on promoting Spanish-language and contemporary repertoire, with a commitment to making the concert hall more inclusive.
Kelly Guerra
Mezzo-Soprano
Photo by Zach Mendez
Photo by Ethan Carlson