Heather Jones (they/them) is an intuitive, embodied, and evocative singing actor who has gained a reputation for amplifying queer and trans stories in opera, notably in As One with Kentucky Opera, Opera Maine, and Holy City Opera; in the world premiere of The Smallest Sound in the Smallest Space at the Clark Theatre  in Lincoln Center, and in a semi-autobiographical chamber opera titled Expostulation(s) of Mary commissioned by the Grammy nominated Wild Up Ensemble. Heather is currently developing a solo piece about growing up as a trans singer in the Episcopal church titled One Body, and this fall they will debut a theatrical recital with Dicky Dutton relating to themes of queer escapism titled Never Land, produced by Amanda+James. 

Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Heather grew up surrounded by jazz, bluegrass, gospel, musical theatre, Anglican music, and contra dancing every other Friday. After a bachelor’s degree in music education from Westminster Choir College and several years of teaching, they found their way to opera and earned a master’s degree in vocal performance at Mannes School of Music.

In recent seasons, Heather sang the roles of Nerone in L'incoronazione di Poppea with Intermountain Opera Bozeman, Dido in Dido and Aeneas with the Savannah Voice Festival, Isaac and Magi in a staged dance production of Britten’s Canticles with City Lyric Opera, and Paquette in Candide with Opera Company of Middlebury, for which they were hailed as “a delightful mix of comic and coloratura.” 2024-2025 concert engagements include Caroline Shaw’s Partita for 8 Voices, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Mozart’s Requiem and Monteverdi’s Lamento d’Arianna. Heather regularly collaborates with 4th Wall Ensemble, Musica Sacra, ChamberQUEER, Bard Music Festival, and joins the roster of Santa Fe Desert Chorale this winter as well as The Sound Between in NYC. Heather was a 2021 finalist in the American Traditions Vocal Competition and winner of the Sherrill Milnes American Opera Award.

Offstage, Heather is usually riding their custom-built 1988 Bridgestone bike, camping in their converted Honda Fit, visiting vintage clothing stores, or spending time with their cat, Blue Barry.

watch

listen

Beyond Travesti podcast guest

The Island of Tulipatan
cast recording

The Cradle Will Rock
cast recording

follow

sang to a sold out MSG with @amyjustman and the @genshinimpact world tour last weekend. surreal! so many costumes in the audience! incredible players and crew! thanks to @jimneglia for being a logistics king and for including us in this stellar group
NEVER LAND 11•22•24 @coffeystreet_studio produced by @amandaplusjames . conceived by @dickydutton + @hbeeejay starring @dickydutton @hbeeejay @m.a.lew & @rrmikol . production/emotional support by @sydneyea @niconeeek and @laurencookme
balancing the weight of my gratitude/guilt at being able to share these milestones. but i promise we’ll continue to exist whether people like it or not :) . “no man is an island, entire of himself … any man’s death diminishes
we wrote a show! and our friends are producing it! . Never Land is part theatre, part recital, part dress up party, part memoir, and the result of many combined years of friendship and artistic partnership. we hope to see you there, BYO eyepatch 🏴&