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The American tenor and music pedagogue, Robert Bracey studied at Grosse Ile Township High School in Grosse Ile, Michigan (Class of 1980). He obtained his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Michigan State University in East Lansing (Class of 1984); his Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (Class of 1990); and his Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan (Class of 1994). He was awarded first place in the Oratorio Society of New York's Annual International Solo Competition at Carnegie Hall. He returned to Carnegie Hall for performances of George Frideric Handel's Messiah later that year.
Robert Bracey has performed throughout the USA and made appearances in Canada, Russia, Europe, India, and Japan. He made his Detroit Symphony debut at Orchestra Hall and his Kennedy Center debut in Washington, DC with the Choral Arts Society of Washington. He has performed as a tenor soloist with the Symphony Orchestra of India and the Paranjoti Academy Chorus at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai, India, the Telemann Chamber Orchestra in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, Oratorio Society of New York, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, World Youth Symphony at Interlochen, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, Choral Arts Society of Washington, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic, Syracuse Symphony, Wichita Symphony, Elgin Symphony, Southwest Florida Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Duluth-Superior Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Greensboro Symphony, Illinois Symphony, Flint Symphony, Midland Symphony, East Texas Symphony, Duke University Chapel Choir, Boise Philharmonic, Independence Messiah Festival, Choral Arts Society of Greensboro, Ann Arbor Symphony, Greater Lansing Symphony, Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, Messiah Choral Society of Orlando, Choral Society of Durham, Bach Festival of Kalamazoo, and the University Musical Society in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Having developed a substantial career as a concert/oratorio singer, Robert Bracey has worked with such well-known conductors as Helmuth Rilling, Simon Preston, Sir Philip Ledger, Norman Scribnerr, Carl St. Clair, Jos van Veldhoven, David Lockington, Hal France, Lyndon Woodside, Gustav Meier, Grant Llewellyn, Robert Hanson, Enrique Diemecke, Jerry Blackstone, Rodney Wynkoop and Andrew Sewell.
Dr. Bracey has been a full time music educator for nearly thirty years. He served as Director of Vocal Music at Dexter Community Schools in Dexter, Michigan (1984-1989; Middle school and high school choral director); Graduate Assistant at the University of Michigan: School of Music in Ann Arbor (1989-1993); Assistant Professor of Voice at Bowling Green State University: College of Musical Arts in Ohio (1993-1997); Voice Area Chair at Michigan State University: School of Music in East Lansing (1997-2003). He also taught on the voice faculty of the Michigan All-State program at the Interlochen Arts Camp for twelve summers.
Sionce 2003, Robert Bracey serves as Dr. Bracey is currently Professor of Voice and Coordinator of Vocal Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro: School of Music, Theatre and Dance. Placement in competitions and summer programs has been an important part of the education and preparation of his students. Several students have participated at programs like Brevard, Chautauqua, Music Academy of the West, Seagle Music Colony, Oregon Bach Festival, Opera North, Charlotte Opera, Opera Kentucky, Ohio Light Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Lyrica Italy, Belcantati Opera, Opera Birmingham, Castleton Festival. Others have either won or placed in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Awards, Coeur d'Alene Symphony Competition, Symphony in the Valley Competition, Harold Haugh Vocal Competition, Shreveport Opera Singer of the Year Competition, Orpheus Competition, The American Prize in Voice-Friederich and Virginia Schorr Award-Opera Division and Art Song Division, Charles Lynam Competition, NATS, and NATSAA. Some have been admitted to well known graduate programs like The University of Michigan, University of Maryland, Indiana University, University of Tennessee, Cincinnati Conservatory and Arizona State University, to name a few. Other alumni have held faculty positions at colleges, universities and preparatory arts academies like Elon University, Shenandoah University, Ohio University, Kent State University, Greensboro College, Houghton College, Taylor University, University of Charleston (WV), Kellogg Community College, Sweet Briar College, Washington and Lee University, Mary Baldwin College, Winthrop University, Wabash College, and Interlochen Arts Academy. As a former undergraduate Music Education major, Bracey is particularly proud of numerous former Music Education students who have gone on to land full time teaching positions in North Carolina and throughout the country. Studio alumni have achieved membership in Actors Equity and performed lead roles in national Off-Broadway tours. Other former students have released commercial compact discs.
A Regional Finalist in the New York Metropolitan Opera Auditions, Robert Bracey also won first place in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Regional Competition. Other previous honors include the N.A.T.S. Jessye Norman Award for the most outstanding soloist at the competition, the Rose Marie Jun Voice Award, the Betty Brewster Award from the Cranbrook Music Guild, the Joy Whitman Weinberger Opera Award, a Dean's Award from Bowling Green State University, and winner of the University of Michigan Concerto Competition.
Centaur Records released Robert Bracey's first solo compact disc in 2006. The recording of English art songs entitled "Sweet was the Song" also features pianist Andrew Harley and violist Scott Rawls. It is available in markets worldwide. In 2009, married Laura Worst . He currently lives in Greensboro, North Carolina. |
