With his “dark, powerful bass-baritone” (Traunsteiner Tagblatt) and “perfect [comedic] timing” (Washington Classical Review), Andrew Gilstrap has begun to establish himself as a versatile artist known for musical sophistication and acting ability. In the 2024-25 season, Mr. Gilstrap joined Wolf Trap Opera singing Horstmayer in Silent Night, made his Arizona Opera debut in the role of Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia and will return to cover the role of Colline and Benoit/Alcindoro in La bohème. He will also perform the role of Hans Olsa in Giants in the Earth with South Dakota Symphony Orchestra.

 

In concert this season, he sang as the bass soloist in the Messiah with Chattanooga Symphony, performed a recital with Steve Blier entitled Te Amo, a recital of Spanish-language love songs, and sang as the bass soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with the Carolina Philharmonic. Recent concert credits include his Chattanooga Symphony and Opera debut in Handel’s Messiah, and joining Georgia Tech Symphony Orchestra to sing Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem. 

 

In 2023-2024, Mr. Gilstrap made returns to Wolf Trap Opera to sing Leporello in Don Giovanni, Minnesota Opera to cover roles in Edward Tulane, and Atlanta Opera to sing as a soloist in Frankenstein and the role of Horace Derwent in The Shining. Since his Atlanta Opera debut as the Official Registrar in Madama Butterfly in 2022, he has sung Starveling in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, participated in a world premiere of Marcus Norris and Adamma Ebo’s Forsyth County is Flooding, and made a role debut as Masetto in Don Giovanni.

 

During his time as a member of the Opernstudio at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, Mr. Gilstrap sang Antonio in Le nozze di Figaro, two runs in the role of Il padre di Nencio in L’infedeltà delusa, multiple roles in The Nose, Deuxième Sentinelle in Les Troyens, and Customs Officer in La bohème.

 

Other engagements include Gregorio in Roméo et Juliette, Usciere in Rigoletto, and the Goldsmith in The Juniper Tree (Wolf Trap Opera), Sourin in Queen of Spades, cover of the title role in Sweeney Todd, and cover of Doktor in Wozzeck (Des Moines Metro Opera), Der Pfleger in Elektra, Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Immigration Officer in Flight (Minnesota Opera), Zuniga in Le Tragédie de Carmen (Opera in the Heights), a program of Mexican Baroque Christmas songs (Mercury Chamber Orchestra), The Beast in Beauty and the Beast (College Light Opera Company), and the Sergeant of Police in Pirates of Penzance (Ohio Light Opera).

 

Mr. Gilstrap was a Filene Artist with Wolf Trap Opera for two consecutive years, and was a Studio Artist in 2017 and 2018. He has been an Ensemble Artist and an Apprentice Artist with Des Moines Metro Opera, and participated in the resident artist program at Minnesota Opera. Mr. Gilstrap holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music from the University of Houston.