Mr. Gilstrap’s lifelong love for music began when he started piano lessons at age four. He was immediately enamored with the study of music, but did not find his true niche until he attended the Governor’s School for the Arts in his home state of Tennessee, as a singer. There, he discovered a particular love for both singing technique and stagecraft, and decided to become an opera singer.
After earning both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, Mr. Gilstrap began a career which married vocal pedagogy with operatic performance. An alumnus of prestigious training programs throughout both the USA and Germany, he has performed major roles with houses including Wolf Trap Opera, Minnesota Opera, Atlanta Opera, and the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, Germany. Throughout his performing career, he has always made time for teaching. His passion for the art form of singing has led him to a teaching career which includes students of all age and skill levels, as he genuinely believes anyone can learn to sing and every single person benefits from the study of music. This trajectory led him to become Head of Vocal Studies at the Arlington School of Music, one of America’s oldest and most prestigious music academies, known throughout the Chicagoland area and beyond for its sterling reputation and rigorous standard of education. In his free time, Mr. Gilstrap is an avid cook and baker, and loves long walks with his wife Annie, their daughter Kathleen, and their dog, Westley.