"Without closely mimicking the sound of any famous tenor, Barbera has his own distinctive, warm, and winning timbre. He has even, total control of dynamics from a hushed pp to a literally hall-shaking forte. His voice is evenly supported across its range, and his intonation is outstanding..." - William Thomas Walker, Classical Voice of North Carolina 2008
René Barbera – was born in Laredo, Texas. He began singing at the age of 10 as a boy soprano in the San Antonio Boys’ Choir. In high school he competed for the All-State Choir in his junior and senior years. Mr. Barbera was invited to the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria in the summer of 2003, and the Vocal Arts Symposium of Colorado Springs in 2004. In 2004 he won the largest award given to undergraduate vocalists at the North Carolina School of the Arts. He performed the role of Ottario in (NCSA’s) Fletcher Opera Institute’s Belisario in the 2005 season and in 2006 he performed the role of Arbace in (NCSA’s) Fletcher Opera Institute’s Idomeneo. In 2006 he won first place in the 5th annual Heafner/Williams Vocal Competition as well as first place in the undergraduate division of the Charlotte Opera Guild Vocal Competition. In 2007 he participated in the Charles A. Lynam Vocal Competition where he placed 3rd in the young artist division but received the grand prize of a concert with the Greensboro Symphony on September 13, 2008. He recently performed the role of Lippo Fiorentino in the Fletcher Opera Institute’s Street Scene and was one of 5 equal winners of the Metropolitan National Council Audition Grand Finals. This past summer he participated in the Merola Opera Program in the summer of 2008 where he performed in the Schwabacher Summer Concert as well as the Merola Grand Finale. Mr. Barbera recently finished with Florida Grand Opera's young artist program where he performed the roles of Gastone in Traviata, Hadji in Lakme and covered the Don Ramiro in Cenerentola. He is currently a member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago's Ryan Opera Center. Mr. Barbera is a student of Dr. Marilyn Taylor.
Photo by Donald Dietz
