On the operatic stage, Gesteland has created several roles in world premiere productions including the title role in Strega Nona with Houston Grand Opera the Nurse in Diagnosis: Danger and the Haunted Woman in Walking on Air with the Contemporary Opera Lab of Winnipeg, Canada and Hortence in Die Operette mit Schlag with the Lone Star Lyric Theater Festival.

Referred to by reviewers as 'powerful' and 'striking' (Great Britain's Organists Review), 'remarkable' and a 'highlight of the evening' (Sioux City Journal), and 'an engaging and versatile singing actress' (Madison Isthmus), she enjoys interpreting standard repertoire in addition to championing contemporary music. She is an active performer on the opera, concert and recital stage. Gesteland's research and creative scholarship consists primarily of vocal performance, scholarly presentations, and opera direction. She has also won awards for her research and creative scholarship, including the 2020-2022 Knutson Distinguished Professor Award as well as the President's Award for Research Creativity in 2020-21. Gesteland was the 2015 winner of the Belbas-Larson Award for Excellence in Teaching (tenured faculty), USD's highest teaching honor.

Tracelyn Gesteland, mezzo-soprano, is Professor of Voice/Opera and holds the Walter A.

Stoughton opera house schedule 2015