Biography of Robert Brooks:
Born in South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal), Robert Brooks matriculated from Dundee High School. He absolved his professional studies in Europe, first at the Salzburg Mozarteum and later the University for Music and Dramatic Art in Vienna. In 1986 he won the first prize in the International Lied Competition held by the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde (Musikverrein) in Vienna. Robert has since been active as a singer, mainly in Europe, singing everything from the Classics (German Lied, Opera, Concert) to Contemporary Music and Tangos from Argentina. He performed at Festivals such as Salzburg Festival, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Wiener Festwochen, Wien Modern, András Schiff's Festival in Mondsee and many others. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra, Orchestra National du Paris, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, are amongst the Orchestras with which Robert has sung under the baton of conductors such as Herbert von Karajan, Yehudi Menuhin, Charles Dutoit and Nicolaus Harnoncourt, to mention just a few. He has also sung in many important theatres including the Vienna State Opera, La Scala Milano and during the Salzburg Festival. In recital his partners at the piano include Ralf Gothoni, Helmut Deutsch, Ingrid Hedlund, and Andras Schiff.

Robert returned to South Africa for the first time in 2000 with the vision of bringing African indigenous music together with Western classical and making lesser known African Music cultures known to audiences, composers and musicians nationally and internationally.