The New York Times hailed Ashraf Sewailam’s début at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall as a “stand out performance” and 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.”

Engagements in 2020 were to include both Carmen and Les Contes d’Hoffmann at the Metropolitan Opera as well as Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola with Minnesota Opera, and Ramfis in Aida with Virginia Opera. This summer he joined Opera Steamboat as Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia and Dr. P in The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat. This coming season he will make his mainstage Metropolitan Opera debut in The Magic Flute as well as join their production of Ariadne auf Naxos.  In addition, he will return to Seattle Opera as Colline in La bohéme, join Tulsa Opera for their production of Salome, and made take on the title role of Maometto II for Washington Concert Opera.

Other recent of his many operatic engagements include the role of Osmin in Abduction from the Seraglio and Queequeg in Moby Dick with Opera San Jose, Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro with San Diego Opera, Colline in La Boheme with Austin Opera, Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia with New Zealand Opera, the title role in Ali Baba with Opera Southwest, the role of Capitán in Florencia en el Amazonas with Madison Opera, Monterone in Rigoletto with Opera Grand Rapids, Toledo Opera, and Opera Carolina, Lignieres in Cyrano with Opera Carolina, Ramfis in Aida with Opera Rockies in Colorado Springs, sang on a recording of The 13th Child, a new opera by Danish composer Poul Ruders, Die Sprecher in Die Zauberflöte with Central City Opera, and the pivotal role of Ferrando in Il trovatore, critics exclaiming, “ When you add bass Ashraf Sewailam to the mix, this becomes even more special…And it needs someone of Sewailam’s caliber.”

Ashraf made his New York City directorial debut directing a production of The Cunning Little Vixen with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble. Critics revered Ashraf’s direction as “thoughtful” (Voce di Meche), yet “straightforward” (New York Classical Review) and praised the production as being “intriguing” and “well-sung.” (Opera News).

Ashraf began his career as a Cairo Opera Company house soloist, where he performed many roles including Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore, Gaudenzio in Il signor Bruschino, Ramfis in Aïda, Palémon in Thaïs, and Sparafucile in Rigoletto. Ashraf was named a prize winner at the New Voices (Neue Stimmen) international competition in Gütersloh, Germany and was featured in the opening concert of the New Alexandria Library singing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in Arabic. In addition to his singing engagements, Ashraf has taught at the American University in Cairo, and served as music director for Disney Character Voice International (DCVI) dubbing Disney productions into Arabic, and performed several of the characters. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado at Boulder.