As a half-Korean woman who grew up in Western culture, soprano Heidi Shea continually explores how her diverse background helps her to communicate on stage and connect deeply with her characters. Recently, Heidi was the runner-up in UMKC’s Chancellors' Finalists’ Competition and directed as well as sang the role of Krysia in the first act of Jake Heggie’s Two Remain. In April of 2025, Heidi participated in several private coachings with Heggie as well as performed in the Heggie Celebration Concert during his residency at UMKC. In 2024, Heidi made her season debut as Le Feu, and Rossignol in Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, and Mary Warren in Ward’s The Crucible in Inspiration Point, AR, before singing Susanna in UMKC’s fall production of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. Previously, Heidi has had the pleasure of singing the role of Ensoleillad in Massenet's Chérubin (2023), and Mozart’s Despina in Così fan tutte (2022). Heidi received her B.M. at Wheaton College in Illinois, and her M.M. and D.M.A. in Vocal Performance at UMKC.