Amy Helms is an intuitive, dynamic, and joyfully collaborative stage director hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio. She recently graduated from Florida State University with a Master of Music in Opera Production, having directed Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice this May as her culminating thesis project. During her studies with directors Matthew Lata and James Marvel, Amy also directed two Outreach projects: Abrazo de Oso and an adaptation she created of The Magic Flute, in addition to assistant directing mainstage productions. She joins Indianapolis Opera as the Resident Assistant Director for the upcoming season, where she will serve as the Assistant Director for main-stage productions, Stage Director for the children’s outreach series and Opera Cabaret events in addition to duties as Production Coordinator. Over the summer of 2025, she was an Apprentice Stage Director at Opera Neo, where she was the First Assistant Director for Donizetti’s Elixir of Love which was performed at the Spanish Art Village in Balboa Park in San Diego, and an associate Assistant Director for Hadyn’s Armida. Additionally, Amy worked as a Production Assistant for events throughout the season.

Beginning her artistic journey as a performer, she studied private voice and participated in the Young Artist’s Preparatory Program at the Musical Arts Center, which is where she first fell in love with opera. Her theatrical training encompassing a two year acting studio program took place at the Cincinnati Actor’s Studio and Academy, where she also earned a Recommended Pass in Unarmed Stage Combat with the SAFD in 2019 and again in 2023. Amy graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from The University of Michigan under the tutelage of Stanford Olsen and Caitlin Lynch. In her vocal studies, Amy debuted the title role in the world premiere of Pluto at the Vienna Summer Music Festival and sang as a Wood Sprite in Rusalka at the Utah Valley OperaFest in 2022. During her final year in Michigan, she sang the role of Agnes Quicklime in the US premiere of Eintänzer and crafted her recital project Metamorphosis to share her vocal, artistic, and personal journey through her undergraduate studies.