Biography

Hailed as a “superb mezzo” (Madalena’s Memos, 2017) and “impressively imperious” (The Wagner Journal, 2024), Lorraine Helvick is quickly making a name for herself in the dramatic and verismo repertoire specializing in the works of Strauss, Verdi, and Wagner. Ms. Helvick has captivated audiences across Switzerland, Czechia, England, Ireland, Wales, France, and Canada. Next season, she will debut Herodiade in Strauss’ masterwork, Salome, with the International Opera Institute and premiere her one-woman show, “Operatic.”

In the 2024-2025 season, Ms. Helvick was awarded first prize in the Las Vegas Opera International Vocal Competition, was a quarter-finalist in Cedar Rapids Opera’s Esther and Myron Wilson Vocal Competition, and won the Riverside Opera Company Vocal Competition. She also reprised her role as Fricka in Die Walküre with New Jersey Opera Theater, debuted with Parlando, and performed as Brangäne in Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde with New York Dramatic Voices. Additionally, she is a finalist with CEFNY.

During the pandemic, Ms. Helvick adapted to the digital landscape by producing and starring in virtual concerts, completing a virtual role preparation program for Ortrud in Wagner’s Lohengrin, and hosting New York Dramatic Voices’ "Information Seminars," an online series featuring interviews with top industry professionals. In May 2021, she made her debut as Zweite Norn in Scenic Opera’s virtual performance of the prologue from Wagner’s Götterdämmerung.

In the 2019-2020 season, Ms. Helvick made her debut as Fricka in Die Walküre with Manhattan Opera Studio, performed scenes from La Gioconda, and made her Czech debut as a Fellow at Opernfest Prague.

In the 2018-2019 season, Ms. Helvick debuted as Der Komponist in Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos with Utah Lyric Opera/UVAA and as Dritte Magde in Strauss’ Elektra with New York Dramatic Voices. She participated in the Lorin Maazel Castleton Festival as a Principal Artist of their Wagner/Strauss division and interpreted characters in concert such as Octavian from Der Rosenkavalier, Princess de Bouillion from Adriana Lecouvreur, and Adalgisa from Norma with New York Dramatic Voices.

Ms. Helvick has portrayed numerous roles, including Eboli in Don Carlo, Carmen in Carmen, Charlotte in Werther, and Flora in La Traviata. In the 2014-2015 season, she debuted as Amneris in Aida and premiered the roles of Soldier’s Mother in Theo Popov’s Once Upon the Wind and Sarah Rosetta Wakeman/Lyons Wakeman in Mike Diakou’s opera, Crossing Lines, based on the women who posed as men to serve in the Union Army of the Civil War_._

Equally at home on the concert stage, Ms. Helvick made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2010 as the alto soloist in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and Händel’s Coronation Mass. Other concert highlights include Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony, Brahms’_ Zigeunelieder_, and Berg’s Sieben frühe Lieder.

Additional highlights include her recognition as a national semi-finalist in the New York Lyric Opera Vocal Competition and her sound track work in the award winning film "Crackers."

Ms. Helvick holds a master’s degree from Westminster Choir College, where she studied with Sharon Sweet and coached with Daniel Beckwith and JJ Penna. She currently studies with Anthony Laciura and coaches with Matthew Lobaugh.