Robert Balonek, Baritone, hails from Rochester NY but was too cold so he moved to NYC so he could learn opera and move to the warm part of Europe and watch the sunset. He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees from Purchase College and then a professional studies degree from Mannes School of Music. After college, Robert worked one million jobs so he could afford audition fees and NYC rent where he was happy to perform lead roles with major companies such as NYC Opera, American Classical Orchestra, Central City Opera, South Dakota Symphony, Opera on the James, Salt Marsh, Chelsea Opera, LOTNY and several others that seemed happy to have me... I mean him... Robert was able to work with wonderful composers such as Seymore Barab, Lee Hoiby, Mohammad Farioz, Rochard Wargo, Stefania DeKenessy, Raphael Lucas, Gerald Cohen, Lucas Syed, M. Zachery Johnson, and some guy who made a skittles commercial. Awards include Opera Index, MONC, Liederkranz, John Moriarty Award, Career bridges scholarships and most improved little league outfielder (I was really bad but now I'm not as bad). Professional recordings consist of The Tempest (Prospero) and Confession (Father Francis) for Albany Records. Non-professional recordings consist of a bunch of bootlegs that I might get sued over. One time, Denyce Graves said I was the best "La Cena e Pronta" that she ever heard so...Hire me...