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Kelly Slawson is turning heads with her shimmering prodigious sound - the voice of a true dramatic soprano. Possessing a “dazzlingly powerful, beautiful voice” and hailed as an “unforgettable triumph” in some of opera’s most demanding repertoire, her return to opera is proving to be grandiose. 

The 2025/2026 season began with a bang as Kelly sang the title role in Richard Strauss’ SALOME with Union Avenue Opera, garnering rave reviews and widespread enthusiasm as a singer to follow.

She continues her journey with Strauss, taking on his most challenging soprano role, ELEKTRA, with Dramatic Voices Midwest in 2026.

Kelly made her dramatic soprano debut in the title role of Turandot with St. Petersburg Opera Company to much acclaim.
 

She is a proud grantee of the Olga Forrai Foundation and was a finalist in the 2024 and 2022 Wagner Society of New York Annual Singers' Competition, where she received grants from the judges' panel for her performances. 

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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.