Brooklyn based Mezzo Soprano, Kathleen Shelton has been described by critics as “alluring and not to be missed.” She possesses both “lyrical beauty and warm caramel tones,” while priding herself on presenting “emotionally charged” performances.
This spring, Shelton starred in the world premiere opera, Ribas-Dominicci, filmed by Texas Public Radio. With Columbia University, she will debut the role of Hecuba in the American premiere of the musical, The Trojan Women. Next up she will be a soloist in the new immersive musical concert, Rivers Unite : Divide, at The High Line Nine.
Shelton concertizes frequently with Florham Opera Company, The Garden State Philharmonic, Ensemble NYC and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. She has performed with opera companies and music festivals all over the United States including: City Lyric Opera, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, St. Petersburg Opera, Sarasota Opera, Princeton Festival, North Shore Music Festival, Light Opera New Jersey, Western Plains Opera, Mississippi Opera, Amore Opera and Natchez Festival of Music.
In her first ever Wagner role, Flosshilde in Das Rheingold, Ms. Shelton was called, “vocally astonishing.” When she received a last minute call to go on for an ailing colleague, a reviewer called her “a natural on stage, with perfect facial expressions…knowing the role inside and out”(OperaPronto) of her performance as Dorabella (Così fan tutte) at Sarasota Opera. Her Maddalena (Rigoletto) with Amore Opera was described as, “sexy, seductive, and a pleasure to hear”(Taminophile).
Past engagements have included: Nicklausse in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, Suzuki in Madame Butterfly, Maddalena in Rigoletto, Meg in Falstaff, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, Zita in Gianni Schicchi, Mrs. Nolan in The Medium, Miss Todd in The Old Maid and the Thief and Tessa in The Gondoliers.
A true singing actress, Ms. Shelton has enjoyed balancing a musical theatre career with roles such as: Laurie & Ado Annie in Oklahoma, Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Julie in Showboat, Charlotte in A Little Night Music and Carrie in Carousel.
Actively and always a student to the great art of performance, Kathleen regularly attends Improv (UCB), Musical Improv (Magnet) and Acting classes (HB Studios).
Ms. Shelton holds a Bachelor’s of Music from The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor(TX) and a Master’s of Music from Florida State University.