During the 2025-26 season, La’Shelle Allen makes her HGO debut performing as Maria in Porgy and Bess. Allen’s career spans more than 30 years performing in opera houses, theaters, and various event venues in 30 countries. She began touring professionally as a Soloist with The Harlem Spiritual Ensemble. Highlights of her solo work include appearances at St. Peter’s Basilica, Grand Théâtre de Genève, North Sea Jazz Festival de Vienne, and Madison Square Garden. Recent engagements include collaborations with Lyric Opera Chicago, Virginia Arts Festival, and The Metropolitan Opera as a member of the Grammy Award-winning cast of Porgy and Bess. In addition to opera, Allen works in jazz, blues, gospel, Broadway, spoken word, and Negro spirituals. She is also a producer, recording/voiceover artist, and teaching artist. Her recently released solo album, Journey to Freedom, showcases original music and arrangements centering the American Negro spiritual. Allen is the creator of Spirituals in Motion, an outreach program designed to further the conversation around diversity in music and the contribution of underrepresented voices.