Quincy Roberts, CEO of Roberts Trucking, Chorus Member and new Board Member of The Dallas Opera, has been enjoying opera at TDO since he was eight years old. Recently he brought to life our very own OperaTruck. Read on to get to know more about Quincy and his love for TDO!
TDO: You fell in life with opera at a very early age. Can you talk about that experience and how opera has had an impact on your life?
QR: The Dallas Opera’s 1987 production of Porgy and Bess was the first opera I ever attended, I was eight years old at the time. Hypnotized from that experience, I gave up all ambitions of being a doctor and a lawyer to be an opera singer. Luckily my elementary school had a great music department. My first instrument was a piano and then I began singing in the choir. My passion for music led me to the Griener Exploratory Arts Academy for middle school and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. I have a degree in vocal performance from the Jacob School at Indiana University. On and off stage, opera has had a high impact on my life and has taken me many places that I otherwise would have never seen. I’ve had the privilege to work as a soloist and perform with several North American opera companies and symphonies, including The Dallas Opera Chorus for the past twelve years. The skills and lessons learned throughout my opera training and career have undoubtedly made me a better entrepreneur. I’ve taken these real life experiences into team building, perseverance, creativity, patience, and collaboration and applied them in my own organization. Opera has given me so much. I am forever indebted to it!
TDO: Is there a particular moment at TDO that was especially moving or memorable to you?
QR: There have been so many memorable experiences, it’s hard to pick just one. Most recently I was nominated and elected to the Board of Directors at The Dallas Opera. The nomination came as a surprise and got me a bit emotional [a tear may have welled up in my eye, but I won’t confirm that publicly]. My first job was in high school as an usher at the Fair Park Music Hall where I would primarily work the operas and escort patrons to their seats. To have come full circle and have a seat on the TDO Board is an accomplishment I never would have imagined.
TDO: You are steadfast in your support of The Dallas Opera. What inspires you to give so generously?
QR: I support The Dallas Opera for numerous reasons, but most importantly for the work and achievements made in our local community. Yearly, the education department reaches tens of thousands of youth by bringing opera to schools through Kids Opera Boot Camp™ and free tickets to dress rehearsals. Being introduced to opera at an early age was transformational for me. The work that The Dallas Opera is doing for youth today is instrumental in developing the future musicians, patrons, and leaders of the entire ecosystem of classical music for tomorrow.
TDO: What do you hope to accomplish through your philanthropy at TDO?
QR: The Dallas Opera has a rich history of being a world-class opera company. Ticket sales only account for a fraction of the company’s annual revenue. It is paramount for TDO to have donors. We are the lifeline of the organization. I hope my philanthropy inspires others to donate.
TDO: As the champion of OperaTruck, why was its creation so important to you?
QR: OperaTruck has been one of the most rewarding special projects I’ve ever had a hand in. The truck itself is a symbol of the two industries that I am closely associated with and love dearly: opera and trucking. The pandemic created a need to bring opera outdoors and into the streets, OperaTruck solved that need and did it in the most Texas way – big! I am excited about the future possibilities this truck will bring. I expect it to be a great asset to the communities we serve for many years to come.
TDO: What are you most looking forward to in TDO’s upcoming 2021/2022 season?
QR: Performing! It’s been nearly two years since I’ve last sung opera in the chorus. I am excited to be amongst my colleagues and making music again.
TDO: What message would you share for why the Opera needs the support of our donors?
QR: When you donate to The Dallas Opera, you are providing the necessary support to bring extraordinary vocal performances and exciting accessible programs to the diverse audiences in our communities. The Dallas Opera provides music that speaks to everyone, whether you are into the traditional classics, or an appreciator of the Avant-Garde new works, The Dallas Opera, through the magical power of live performance, brings music for everyone to enjoy. When you give to TDO, you’re supporting our legacy of bringing opera to the entire DFW metroplex, reaching people of all ages and backgrounds, and making certain there will be an audience for this extraordinary art form for future generations.
Learn more about OperaTruck from Quincy here!