Robert Bracey has performed throughout the United States and made appearances in Canada, Russia, Europe, India, and Japan. 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 Handel: Messiah. 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, 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, Charlotte 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, Asheville Choral Society, Kalamazoo Bach Festival, and the University Musical Society in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Bracey has worked with distinguished conductors like Helmuth Rilling, Simon Preston, Sir Philip Ledger, Norman Scribner, Carl St. Clair, Jos van Veldhoven, David Lockington, Hal France, Lyndon Woodside, Gustav Meier, Grant Llewellyn, John V. Sinclair, Robert Hanson, Enrique Diemecke, Jerry Blackstone, Rodney Wynkoop and Andrew Sewell.
A Regional Finalist in the New York Metropolitan Opera Auditions, he 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 Regional 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 first place in the University of Michigan Concerto Competition.
Centaur Records released Bracey’s solo compact disc. 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.
He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from Michigan State University, a Master of Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Voice Performance from the University of Michigan. He has previously served on the faculties at Bowling Green State University and Michigan State University where he was Chair of the Voice Area. He also taught on the voice faculty of the Michigan All-State program at the Interlochen Arts Camp for twelve summers.
Dr. Bracey has been a music educator for over thirty-five years. He is passionate about training young professionals for success as artists and teachers. He taught vocal pedagogy courses at three universities before joining the faculty at UNCG.
Professional opera and concert performances, placement in competitions and young artist programs are an important part of the education, preparation, and success of his students. They have been granted opportunities at New York City Opera, Salzburg State Theatre, Brevard Music Center, Chautauqua Institution, Opera Roanoke, Music Academy of the West, Seagle Music Colony, Oregon Bach Festival, Opera North, Des Moines Metro Opera, Charlotte Opera, Opera Kentucky, Ohio Light Opera, Santa Fe Opera, La Musica Lirica, Harrower Opera Workshop, Opera Lyrica Italy, Belcantati Opera, Opera Birmingham, Manhattan Opera Studio, Ukrainian Art Song Project, Denver International Festival of the Arts, Charleston Symphony, Triad Stage, Bel Canto Company, Duke University Bach Cantata Series, Raleigh Bach Soloists, Columbus/Indiana Philharmonic and Castleton Festival.
Members of his studio 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, Partners for the Arts, S. Livingston Mather Scholarship, Heafner/Williams Competition, Carol Brice Branch Competition, The American Prize in Voice-Friederich and Virginia Schorr Award-Opera Division and Art Song Division, Charles Lynam Competition, NATS, and NATSAA.
Alumni have been admitted to well known graduate programs like The University of Michigan, University of Maryland, Indiana University, University of Tennessee, Ohio State University, Cincinnati Conservatory, Ohio University, and Arizona State University, to name a few.
Other graduates have held faculty positions at colleges, universities and preparatory arts academies like Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Elon University, Shenandoah University, James Madison University, Ohio University, North Dakota State University, Wingate University, Lee University, Houston Baptist University, High Point University, Kent State University, Radford University, Averett 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.
Former students have achieved membership in Actors Equity and performed lead roles in national Off-Broadway tours. Others have released commercial compact discs.
Having earned his Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education, Dr. Bracey is particularly proud of numerous former Music Education students who have gone on to land teaching positions in North Carolina and throughout the country.
Dr. Bracey is currently Professor and Chair of the Voice Area at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.