Kellan DUNLAP

Tenor Kellan Dunlap is a frequent performer of opera and song literature, praised for his “impressive tenor with a flowing, bright delivery” and “commanding stage presence” (Opera Today). Currently a member of the Internationales Opernstudio at the Staatstheater Nürnberg, Dunlap will join the soloist ensemble at Stadttheater Bremerhaven for the 2026–2027 season. Upcoming performances with the company include Wenzel in The Bartered Bride, Caramello in Eine Nacht in Venedig, Hyllus in Hercules, Contadino in Luisa Miller, and Messager Philistin in Samson et Dalila.

Dunlap has earned significant acclaim for his versatility, with the Süddeutsche Zeitung describing him as “both vocally and dramatically agile.” His recent portrayal of Kilian in Der Freischütz was highlighted by Opern News as “a performance well worth hearing . . . who skillfully builds the dramatic contrast” with his “jovial good-nature.” Throughout the 2025–2026 season, he has been further lauded as “incredibly agile . . . quick-witted” (Bachtrack), “charismatic . . . likable” (Concerti), and “comedically strong” (Donau Kurier). His roles in Nürnberg include Gastone in La traviata, Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte, Abdallo in Nabucco, and Der Haushofmeister/Der Wirt in Der Rosenkavalier. While in the Opernstudio, he stepped into final dress rehearsals as Pong in Kateryna Sokolova’s new production of Turandot and prepared the roles of Valzacchi in Der Rosenkavalier and Der Maler and Freier in Lulu as a cover. Other recent highlights include Sellem in The Rake’s Progress and Spoletta in Tosca at The Glimmerglass Festival, where critics noted that Sellem was “handled with a harrowing, yet hilarious mix of professionalism and effrontery” (Counter Punch) and that Dunlap’s “bright, easy tenor and commanding stage presence served the character of Spoletta well” (Opera Today).

An alum of The Glimmerglass Festival, Des Moines Metro Opera, and OPERA San Antonio Apprentice Artist Programs, he has performed roles such as Male Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia), Bégearss (The Ghosts of Versailles), Triquet (Eugene Onegin), Ferrando (Così fan tutte), Acis (Acis and Galatea), the Duke (Patience), and the First Officer (Dialogues of the Carmelites). His scene work includes Loge and Mime (Das Rheingold), David (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg), Jaquino (Fidelio), Pedrillo (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Basilio and Curzio (Le nozze di Figaro), and Frederic (The Pirates of Penzance).

After making his Wigmore Hall debut in 2024, Dunlap and collaborative pianist Lyndsi Maus presented a recital tour of American art song titled Even the Trees Weep, performing at the University of Michigan, Rice University, Oakland University, the Lone Star Song Festival and the Santa Inez in the Valley Concert Series. The program featured the world premiere of Victor Cui’s song cycle of the same name, which sets texts written by students, teachers, and parents impacted by school shootings, exploring societal perspectives on gun violence in schools. The program was also recently presented in Paris as part of the American Collaboration of Music Festival. A winner of the Presser Foundation’s 2024 Theodore Presser Music Award, he also earned first place in the National Student Auditions of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, was a semi-finalist in the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition, a finalist in the Federation of the Art Song Competition, and a quarterfinalist in the Wigmore Hall/Bollinger International Song Competition.

Dunlap has appeared as a soloist in oratorio repertoire such as Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Requiem in venues including the Detroit Concert Hall, Devos Hall, Duncan Recital Hall, and Varner Recital Hall. He earned his Bachelor of Music from Oakland University and his Master of Music from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University.