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M.M., University of Nevada, Reno
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B.A., Claflin University (Cum Laude)
Reuben Roberts
Reuben Roberts, baritone, received his Master’s of Music: Vocal Performance, from University of Nevada, Reno in 2019 from the voice studio of Dr. Albert Lee and received another Master’s of Music: Choral Conducting in 2020 under the instruction of Dr. Paul Torkelson at the same institution. Originally from Sardis, GA, Reuben graduated cum laude from Claflin University with a BA in Music with a minor in education.
At Claflin, Reuben performed as “King Melchior” from Amahl & the Night Visitors, “Monastatos” from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, “Bob” from The Old Maid & the Thief, “Cece” from Dreamgirls, and “Rum” Carmen Jones. While fulfilling his requirements as a voice major, he was able to do a Piano Junior Recital under the direction of Dr. Sujung Cho in 2016. The fall of the same year, he was featured as the bass soloist with Claflin University Concert Choir’s production of Handel’s Messiah.
At UNR, Reuben was featured as a bass soloist performing “The Trumpet Shall Sound,” with recitative, from Handel’s Messiah in 2017, he performed as “Papageno” with The Nevada Chamber Opera’s production of Die Zauberflöte in the spring of 2018, as well as a bass soloist in Handel’s Messiah in the Fall of 2017 with UNR’s production, performed as “Betto” in the Nevada Chamber Opera’s production of Gianna Schicchi and “Testo” with the Early Music Ensemble’s performance of Il Combattimento de Tangredi e Clordina. Reuben received second place in Advanced Men’s category at the 2019 Cal-Western NATS competition and advanced to Nationals in the YouTube Round. For his thesis project for Choral Conducting, he started and formed UNR’s first acapella group called BLV (Biggest
Little Voices) for this 2019-2020 school year. In 2019, he was again featured as a bass soloist with UNR for Handel’s Messiah and this time conducted two choruses and four arias at the same performance in 2019.
Reuben performed musical theater roles such as “Jack” from Into the Woods and “Agwe” from Once on this Island both with Inner Rhythms Performing Arts Production located in Truckee, NV. He was also casted into three burlesque shows: “Ignite” in Lake Tahoe, “The Nevada Show,” and “Ignite” in Reno where he was host, singer, pianist, and dancer for those shows. He performed with the Toccata-Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus for their production of Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s Mass in B Minor and was featured as a bass soloist for both. While studying for his second Master’s, Reuben was able to study at Truckee Meadows Community College to pursue an Associate’s Degree in Musical Theatre he received in the spring of 2020. Reuben is currently a Music Director at Our Lady of the Lake located in Chapin, SC where he directed and was a member of a SATB Quartet for an “Early Music Recital.” He also directed and starred in his own cabaret show called “A Cabaret!: Another Introduction” as he sung solo and played keyboard. He plans on continuing directing and performing in Columbia, SC while teaching voice and piano throughout the Columbia area.