Versatile contralto Helen Tintes-Schuermann began her musical career as a coach-accompanist. She has gone on to sing principal works of the concert and operatic repertoire throughout Europe and the USA and has been praised by critics: “her performance was very strong, her instrument is rich” (Frankfurt Allgemeine), “she sang with an imposing Orpheus sound” (Oberoesterreichische Nachrichten), “the soprano was complemented perfectly by her rich, plummy mezzosoprano” (Verdi Requiem, The State—South Carolina), and “Tintes-Schuermann possesses a warm rich mezzo; she was a fiery Carmen” (Fargo Forum). She is known as an “engaging and strong-willed actress” (The State) as Marcellina (The Marriage of Figaro) and as Madame Flora in The Medium.

Tintes-Schuermann has sung with several important theaters and festivals in Europe, such as the Teatro del Gran Liceu (Barcelona) in Richard Strauss’ Elektra, with Theater an der Wien in Webber’s Phantom of the Opera, at the Festival du Printemps in Monte Carlo in Mozart’s Requiem, and at the Alte Oper in Frankfurt, Germany (Hummel’s An die Schoenen, Blauen Donau). She has performed throughout Spain in concerts of Baroque and New Music, as well in northern Italy and Poland on tour in works of Brahms and Mahler. The contralto has sung numerous oratorio works by Mozart, Haydn, and Schubert at the Salzburg Cathedral and St. Stephen’s in Vienna.

In the United States, Tintes-Schuermann has performed with Chicago Opera Theater in Phillip Glass’ Akhnaten, with Chicago’s Light Opera Works in Kismet, and with Northwestern University Opera Theater (The Crucible, Suor Angelica). She has also performed extensively in concert in Chicago and in New York City at such venues as The Players’ Club. Since moving to the Southeast, Tintes-Schuermann has sung with many regional orchestras, including the Augusta Symphony, the Charlotte Symphony, the Naples Bach Ensemble (Florida), and the USC Symphony. Her repertoire encompasses major works of opera and oratorio, as well as New Music, and has recorded for Austrian, Swiss, and Spanish radio/television. She is fluent in Spanish and German, enabling her to specialize in the vocal literature of Spain, Latin America, Germany and Austria.

Dr. Tintes-Schuermann is assistant professor of voice on the faculty of The University of South Carolina. She received her DM from Northwestern University, where she studied with Elizabeth Fischer, Sherrill Milnes, William Warfield and Mignon Dunn. She holds the Magister degree in Lied from the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria and has also completed degrees in Opera Performance from the Escuela de Canto in Madrid and the University of Minnesota.