Shelby VanNordstrand has appeared as a soprano soloist from the United States to Indonesia, China, Japan, Hawai’i, Lithuania, and Oman. 

VanNordstrand is passionate about connecting song and opera repertoire to today’s audience. Her recital project “The Giving Voice Project: Ophelia” examines the gendered oppression of Hamlet’s Ophelia from a twenty-first century view point through song, opera, and dance. She is especially passionate about new art song and opera and loves to be involved in the creation of new works. You can hear her on the album “Storms & Stars, songs for soprano and piano by Jodi Goble”, available for streaming on all major platforms. She was awarded an honorable mention in The American Prize, Women in Art Song in 2023. She is an alumnus of the SongFest program.

​As a teacher, her students have been named winners of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Student Auditions at the state, regional, and national levels and winners of the National Opera Association's Collegiate Opera Scenes Competition. As a presenter, she has presented at the National Collegiate Music Society Conference, the National Opera Association Conference, the National Association of Teachers of Singing National Conference, and other state and regional conferences. She currently serves as Vice President for Conferences with the National Opera Association and serves in regional leadership with the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Shelby joined the faculty of the Department of Music and Theatre at Iowa State University in the fall of 2024. Previously, she served as Associate Professor of Voice at the University of Nebraska Omaha.​ VanNordstrand holds a Bachelor of Music in music education from Iowa State University, and a Master of Music in vocal performance from Michigan State University.