As a half-Korean woman who grew up in Western culture, soprano Heidi Shea continually explores what it means to be both Caucasian and Asian, and how that relates to her musical journey and singing experience. Because of her multi-ethnic and many mixed experiences, Heidi has developed a strong empathetic instinct which, coupled with her profound desire to communicate, enables her to connect deeply with the character(s) and the story she and her fellow singers are bringing to life on stage.

While the COVID pandemic brought many difficult challenges, Heidi continued to pursue what opera and performing opportunities she could. Heidi placed second in the NATS Chicago chapter in the spring of 2020, which was completed in an online format and in 2021, Heidi performed the role of Musetta in an online version of La bohème with the Midwest Opera. In March of 2022, Heidi played the role of Despina (Così fan tutte) at the UMKC conservatory and the role of L’Ensoleillad (Massenet’s Chérubin) in November of that same year. In the summer months of 2024, Heidi made her season debut as Le Feu, and Rossignol (Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortilèges), and Mary Warren in (Ward’s The Crucible) at Opera in the Ozarks, AR, and sang the role of Susanna (Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro) in the Fall of 2024 with UMKC Conservatory. In the spring of 2025, 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 a few private coachings as well as a masterclass with Heggie during his residency at UMKC.

Heidi received her Master of Music in Vocal Performance in May 2022 from the University of Missouri in Kansas City, where she studied under the renowned Maria Kanyova. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Wheaton College Conservatory with Sarah Holman.