One on One with Bradley Roberts
I've gotten to see this talented guy serve as Vocal Captain many times for "The Voices of Liberty" many times. He recently started a YouTube channel so I wanted to ask him questions about both of these things and more. Let's get started.
Started singing in church when I was 5 or 6. Age 8 I was accepted in the Chattanooga Boys’ Choir where I got my first choral training.
Did you study music in college or ever have vocal lessons?
I actually only studied music as electives in college. I have a BA in Management with a minor in Music Business from Belmont University in Nashville, TN.
When did you start with Disney?
What did you do before you worked for a mouse?
I started full time with the Voices of Liberty in 2008. Began subbing as Crush at Finding Nemo the Musical in 2017. My current contract is split between the best of both worlds/shows. I’m normally at Voices as Vocal Captain 3 days and at Nemo 2 days per week.
Depends on what I’m doing. Sometimes I’m pulled to Tenor 1 for the day if there’s a need. In that role, I guess my favorites are Battle Hymn, You’ll Never Walk Alone and God Bless America. As Vocal Captain I love conducting The First Noel during Christmas season and the last chord of Gonna Build a Mountain, if the chord is ringing well!
The First Noel is my favorite Christmas song you all do.
You're also in Finding Nemo the musical at Disney's Animal Kingdom how do the two vary?
Gosh. They are very different shows. Voices is more choral ensemble singing which is a different skill than the equally difficult theatrical skills required at Nemo. The biggest differences for me at Nemo are that Nemo is such a faster pace and my role is not in leadership there. At Nemo I get to take off my Vocal Captain hat and just enjoy playing a role on stage which is just a lot of fun. It's faster pace....In Crush’s track I have 6 costume changes in a 35 minute show. So once the overture begins, it’s off to the races. I also get to sing differently there. More musical theater style of singing and Go With the Flow is one of my favorite things I get to sing in both shows.
Have you ever preformed in shows at Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios?
I’ve gotten to perform on the castle stage at MK with Voices a few times. Voices was asked to perform at MK for a special event with the Gary Sinise Foundation which invites Gold Star Military Families to a private morning in the park. That was really special.
What is one thing musically outside of Disney that you received opportunity to do and when you think of it, it makes you smile?
Well in the Boys’ Choir I was in I got lots of cool opportunities. Performed for President Reagan. Performed with Bob Hope, Roger Miller, Andy Williams. With the choir and cruise ships I’ve gotten to travel to 30 states and I think 32 different countries. Got to randomly sing background vocals for Debbie Gibson on a cruise contract which makes me laugh as I lived my best 1990s kid life! Lol.
What is one way you keep challenging yourself?
I think I challenge myself everyday at Disney to make sure I give my A game best performance for our guests every time I’m on stage. For many their trip is a once in a lifetime experience and they deserve to see and hear the best show possible. I’m also trying new things outside of Disney like my new YouTube Channel: Bradley the Singing Chef. Cooking, especially for others, has always been a passion of mine. So the cooking is the easy part of the series. But the tech behind recording and editing and uploading process is a new adventure/challenge as is setting up the side business for my future aspirations with cooking as a side gig.
What is one piece of advice that has served you well over the years?
Well, the COVID 19 Pandemic is what jettisoned the idea into fruition. I’ve always had in the back of my mind that I would love to have a cooking business of some sort: catering, being a private chef, restaurant.....something. But when we were all furloughed at Disney it was the time for me to figure out more than one basket for my eggs to be in. The furlough has also given me the time to form the small business properly to lay a foundation for success I hope. So I got a little equipment and just started filming some recipes in my kitchen. Just getting this thing off the ground. But I’m enjoying it so far! My eventual hope is to get a website up to actually receive orders for a menu of dishes in addition to the YouTube channel.
I started full time with the Voices of Liberty in 2008. Began subbing as Crush at Finding Nemo the Musical in 2017. My current contract is split between the best of both worlds/shows. I’m normally at Voices as Vocal Captain 3 days and at Nemo 2 days per week.
Before working for Disney I worked in the cruise ship entertainment industry. I was a singer on ships from 2001 until 2005. Then I became a Vocal Director/Rehearsal Supervisor teaching shows for Royal Caribbean before I moved to Orlando for a role singing tenor for Voices in 2008.
You're one of the Vocal Captains for Voices of Liberty besides picking the set list can you give me some insight on what that entails?
The Vocal Captains choose the songs for each set as you said. We also give notes to the cast as needed after each set to hone the sound for the day or correct any issues we hear during show. We are also responsible for leading 2 45 minute rehearsals each week and our 15 minute warmup time prior to a day of shows. My favorite part of being a Vocal Captain is that I get to be the group’s cheerleader because they are pretty freakishly awesome and I’m selfishly the first face that wall of sound hits when I’m conducting and THAT is also freakishly awesome!!
You're one of the Vocal Captains for Voices of Liberty besides picking the set list can you give me some insight on what that entails?
The Vocal Captains choose the songs for each set as you said. We also give notes to the cast as needed after each set to hone the sound for the day or correct any issues we hear during show. We are also responsible for leading 2 45 minute rehearsals each week and our 15 minute warmup time prior to a day of shows. My favorite part of being a Vocal Captain is that I get to be the group’s cheerleader because they are pretty freakishly awesome and I’m selfishly the first face that wall of sound hits when I’m conducting and THAT is also freakishly awesome!!
What is your favorite Voices song to sing?
Depends on what I’m doing. Sometimes I’m pulled to Tenor 1 for the day if there’s a need. In that role, I guess my favorites are Battle Hymn, You’ll Never Walk Alone and God Bless America. As Vocal Captain I love conducting The First Noel during Christmas season and the last chord of Gonna Build a Mountain, if the chord is ringing well!
The First Noel is my favorite Christmas song you all do.
You're also in Finding Nemo the musical at Disney's Animal Kingdom how do the two vary?
Have you ever preformed in shows at Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios?
I’ve gotten to perform on the castle stage at MK with Voices a few times. Voices was asked to perform at MK for a special event with the Gary Sinise Foundation which invites Gold Star Military Families to a private morning in the park. That was really special.
What is one thing musically outside of Disney that you received opportunity to do and when you think of it, it makes you smile?
Well in the Boys’ Choir I was in I got lots of cool opportunities. Performed for President Reagan. Performed with Bob Hope, Roger Miller, Andy Williams. With the choir and cruise ships I’ve gotten to travel to 30 states and I think 32 different countries. Got to randomly sing background vocals for Debbie Gibson on a cruise contract which makes me laugh as I lived my best 1990s kid life! Lol.
What is one way you keep challenging yourself?
I think I challenge myself everyday at Disney to make sure I give my A game best performance for our guests every time I’m on stage. For many their trip is a once in a lifetime experience and they deserve to see and hear the best show possible. I’m also trying new things outside of Disney like my new YouTube Channel: Bradley the Singing Chef. Cooking, especially for others, has always been a passion of mine. So the cooking is the easy part of the series. But the tech behind recording and editing and uploading process is a new adventure/challenge as is setting up the side business for my future aspirations with cooking as a side gig.
What is one piece of advice that has served you well over the years?
Being early is on time. Be the most ready/prepared person in the room.
What is one thing people are surprised to learn about you?
What is one thing people are surprised to learn about you?
Probably either that I love to cook or that I left Disney for a season of 3 years to take a role at my church as the Executive Director of Worship. Still volunteer a lot there.
I know you recently started a YouTube channel where you show people how to cook.Can you tell me about that and why you started it?
I know you recently started a YouTube channel where you show people how to cook.Can you tell me about that and why you started it?
Bradley the Singing Chef click here to watch Bradley's first youtube video where he will show you how to make biscuits. Feel free to like, follow, share and comment.
One last question, esides singing and cooking what are other hobbies you like?
Like I said I do a lot of volunteer work at my church St. Luke’s United Methodist here in Orlando. I sing with the praise team, serve as co-chair for our Committee on Diversity and Inclusion which is a big passion of mine. I also am a big foodie; so I love experiencing new restaurants or trying new dishes or styles of cuisine. So basically I like to eat as much as I like to cook, I guess! Lol!
One last question, esides singing and cooking what are other hobbies you like?
Like I said I do a lot of volunteer work at my church St. Luke’s United Methodist here in Orlando. I sing with the praise team, serve as co-chair for our Committee on Diversity and Inclusion which is a big passion of mine. I also am a big foodie; so I love experiencing new restaurants or trying new dishes or styles of cuisine. So basically I like to eat as much as I like to cook, I guess! Lol!
As always feel free to like, share and comment.
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