Ashraf Sewailam

The New York Times hailed his debut at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall with Grattacielo Opera as the "stand out performance" and subsequent reviews, including in Opera News, described his voice as "purring and velvety with an easily produced Ramfis-like top range with a majestic tone" and his stage presence as "strong, mysterious and with mesmerizing intensity". Twice winner of the Spencer Fellowship, Bass-baritone Ashraf Sewailam was born in Cairo, Egypt and, along with a successful performing career, has just received his doctoral degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Originally an architect, then a house soloist with the Cairo Opera Company, Mr. Sewailam had his US debut with Opera Colorado in 2003 and has since sung with several regional and major opera companies and venues around the US such as Seattle Opera, Lake George Opera NY, Opera Theater of the Rockies CO, Piedmont Opera NC, Nevada Opera, Mobile Opera AL, Fresno Grand Opera, Fort Collins Opera, as well as a debut recital at Lincoln Center in April 2007. His first CD recording on Bridge label of songs by Stefan Wolpe (in Hebrew) was released in February 2007. Future engagements include Seattle Opera, Israeli Opera, Virginia Opera, Fresno Grand Opera, Colorado Music Festival, Chattanooga Symphony, The Boulder Bach Festival and a solo CD with Bridge Label. In 2001 he was a prizewinner at the New Voices International Competition in Gutersloh, Germany. In addition to his singing engagements, Mr. Sewailam has taught at the American University in Cairo, and served as music director for Disney Character Voice International (DCVI) dubbing Disney productions into Arabic, as well as performing some of the characters himself, most notably, Mickey Mouse and Ursula the sea witch!