Bradley Robinson

Bradley Robinson, baritone, is associate professor of music, teaching studio voice and graduate and undergraduate-level courses in vocal pedagogy. He received his bachelor of music education degree from Fort Hays State University, his master of music from The Florida State University, and his doctor of musical arts from the University of Illinois where he studied voice with Nicholas DiVirgilio.

Robinson has performed opera, oratorio, and musical theater throughout the United States with companies including the Atlanta Civic Opera, Opera Memphis, Charlotte Opera, St. Petersburg Opera, and the Chautauqua Opera. His professional opera credits include Escamillo (Carmen), Silvio (I Pagliacci), Guglielmo (Cosi Fan Tutte), Michele (Il Tabarro), and the title roles in Don Giovanni, Gianni Schicchi, and Dido and Æneas. Lighter fare includes the Pirate King (The Pirates of Penzance), Pish-Tush (The Mikado), and Billy Bigelow (Carousel). Robinson performed two years as artist in residence with Opera Carolina in roles including Papageno (The Magic Flute), Dandini (La Cenerentola), and the Father in Hansel and Gretel. In 1984 he sang the role of Captain Amadas in the world premiere of Ian Hamilton's opera Raleigh's Dream for the British-American Festival, and later went on to tour the opera in the title role.

In the fall of 2005, Robinson sang the role of Creon with Sinfonia da Camera in the North American premiere of Georges Enesco's opera Oedipe (aired on Romanian National Television), and later appeared with them as Don Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro and as Herr von Faninal in Der Rosenkavalier. Other engagements include the role of Melchior in the Opera Memphis production of Amahl and the Night Visitors with Kallen Esperian, and as Tonio in Pagliacci. He also appeared with Memphis as Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana, and with the Como Opera in the title role of their production of Gianni Schicchi.

An accomplished oratorio soloist, he has appeared with numerous symphony orchestras, including the Mississippi Symphony, and those of Tallahassee, Memphis, Hilton Head, Germantown, Jacksonville, and Corinth. His many credits include Handel's Messiah, Orff's Carmina Burana, the Requiems of Brahms, Fauré, and Mozart, Vaughn Williams Hodie, and Bach's Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme. and solo cantata Ich habe genug.

Among his reviews, the Charlotte Observer states, "One thing can be said of his voice. It is truly beautiful"; the Tallahassee Democrat described his voice as "powerful and agile, and always expressive."

Active as a recitalist throughout the United States, Robinson performed his lecture recital entitled "Charles Ives: A Portrait in Song, A Melding of Life Experience and Musical Expression" at the Hawaii International 2005 Conference on Arts and Humanities. Performances of this work have previously been featured by the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing at their Symposium on American Song Literature, and the Southern Regional Conference of the College Music Society. Dr. Robinson's numerous awards include the prestigious Performing Arts Fellowship from the University of Illinois, and National First Place Winner in the MTNA Wurlitzer Collegiate Artists Competition.

In the fall of 2007, Robinson appeared in recital at the 50th Anniversary National Conference of the College Music Society, held in Salt Lake City, and in 2009 for the National Opera Association's National Conference in Washington, D.C. Recent and upcoming recital performances include those for the University of Mississippi Faculty Artist Series, the Guest Artist Series of William Carey University, and a joint recital at the University of Utah. In 2009 he appeared as soloist with the Germantown Symphony Orchestra in their season finale concert, and in the spring of 2010 he will appear as soloist with the L-O-U Orchestra.

Robinson served four years as Mississippi state president of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, for whom he regularly adjudicates competitions, and has has appeared nationally and regionally as guest recitalist. He has also served as both an adjudicator and master class clinician at Music Teachers National Association vocal festivals. He may be heard on Albany Records.