Met Masterclass with Helena Brown (2)

Work one-on-one with Met soprano Helena Brown.

Lauded as having a "stunningly large round sound," as well as a “steely, velvety” timbre, American dramatic soprano, Helena Brown, is quickly distinguishing herself as a force of nature for the international stages. Recently, Helena made her role debuts as Lucia in Terence Blanchard's Champion, First Mother in Dead Man Walking, and Fisherwoman in Peter Grimes at the Metropolitan Opera; she also debuted as Mrs. Dickson in Ricky Ian Gordon and Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel at Lincoln Center Theater, Sieglinde in Die Walküre with Miami Wagner Institute, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with Rioja Lirica/DIVAria Productions, Female Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia with New Camerata Opera, as well as Serena and Strawberry Woman in Porgy and Bess on the New York Harlem Theater European tour at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, Chassé Theater, and Amsterdam RAI. Additional appearances include the Glimmerglass Festival for multiple seasons, most notably to sing Isabella in the American premiere of The Siege of Calais; Bloody Mary in South Pacific at Opera Roanoke, concerts with the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra and New Haven Symphony Orchestra; and as a featured soloist with Maryland Opera, LOFTrecital and Out of the Box Opera.

Helena has received awards such as the Top Prize, Robert Lauch Memorial Award, in the Wagner Society of New York Competition, Second Place in the Brava Opera Theatre Competition, the Sergio Franchi Award in the Deborah Voigt/Vero Beach Opera Competition, Second Place in the Young Patronesses of the Opera/Florida Grand Opera Vocal Competition, as well as awards from the Cooper-Bing Foundation, Opera at Florham, Opera Birmingham, and Opera Ebony Benjamin Matthews vocal competitions. Helena additionally received grants from the Gerda Lissner Foundation, Giulio Gari Foundation, Opera Index and Encouragement Grants from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in Philadelphia, the Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation, and the MetroWest Opera Vocal Competition in Boston.

Formerly a mezzo-soprano, Helena was a young artist at the 2016 Glimmerglass Festival where she performed Rebecca Nurse and covered Tituba under the baton of Nicole Paiement in Francesca Zambello’s acclaimed production of The Crucible.  Additionally, Helena appeared with Minnesota Opera, performing Dryad in Ariadne auf Naxos; sang Addie in Regina and Mrs. Herring in Albert Herring at Bronx Opera; covered Mama McCourt in Ballad of Baby Doe with Chautauqua Opera; and covered Grandmother Buryjovka in Jen?fa with Des Moines Metro Opera, where she also appeared in scenes concerts as Dalila in Samson et Dalila, Mistress Quickly in Falstaff, Martha in Faust, and Filippyevna in Eugene Onegin.

Helena holds a Master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Music, Summa Cum Laude, from Hollins University where she also studied arts management and theatre. In addition to appearances in/out of the US, Helena works full time as a chorister at the Metropolitan Opera. A fierce ally to the arts, Helena holds positions as a Vice President on the board for the American Guild of Musical Artists and as an Advisory Director on the Metropolitan Opera Board of Directors.