Bethany Jelinek, soprano, is a versatile young artist, recognized for her “flawless vocal technique.”  As a resident Artist with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City for the 2024–2025 season, she made her mainstage debut with the company as Diana in Leonard Foglia’s Cruzar la Cara de la Luna and created the title role in the world premiere of Lori Laitman’s Maya and the Magic Ring, an opera for families. She also appeared in the ensemble of Puccini’s Turandot.

Ms. Jelinek’s diverse operatic repertoire includes standout performances as the Female Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia), Abigail Williams (The Crucible), and Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte). A committed advocate for new music, she has premiered works by emerging composer Ethan Gurwitz—including Tales of the Cottingley Fairies and Echo’s Last Words with the Meadows Wind Ensemble—and performed Efrain Amaya’s song cycle Four Seasons in North Dakota with The Minot Symphony Orchestra.

Her growing list of accolades includes being named a Semifinalist in the 2024 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, a finalist in the inaugural 2024 Heartland Sings Vocal Competition, and the recipient of the 2023 Jonathan Pell People’s Choice Award from the Dallas Opera Guild Biennial Lone Star Vocal Competition.

Ms. Jelinek holds both a Bachelor's and a Master of Music degrees in Vocal Performance from Southern Methodist University.