World-class bass opera singer and Citadel alumnus to address Class of 2017
December 16, 2016
Former Citadel football player turned internationally-known opera singer, Morris Robinson, will deliver the last address The Citadel Class of 2017 hears before heading out into the world and forging paths as leaders across the nation. Robinson, Class of 1991, will address the South Carolina Corps of Cadets during commencement at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 6.
Robinson grew up in Atlanta, the son of a Baptist minister and a mother who insisted her children play musical instruments and be successful in school. His earliest memory of singing was in his church’s kid’s choir when he was just six years old. Throughout his childhood, he was always drawn to the football field, but at the age of 10 he was too large to play in his age group and instead joined the elite Atlanta Boys Choir.
After being offered scholarships for music at multiple colleges, Robinson decided to enroll at The Citadel so he could play football. As a cadet he played for the Bulldogs and sang in The Citadel Choir – excelling in academics and extracurricular activities.
Robinson graduated with a degree in English and worked for 3M Technologies in Washington, D.C. for several years before eventually auditioning for a spot with The Choral Arts Society of Washington. Shortly after earning a place with the choir, his career took him to Boston where he was accepted into the New England Conservatory of Music’s continuing education program ultimately earning a place in The Opera Institute at Boston University.
Robinson currently performs in front of thousands of people all over the world, singing in Italian, French, German and English and credits his time at The Citadel for fueling his international success.
The South Carolina Corps of Cadets’ 2017 Commencement will take place at McAlister Field House. The speaker for The Citadel Graduate College commencement ceremony on the same day will be announced at a later date. The graduate college ceremony begins at 3:30 p.m., also at McAlister Field House.
About The Citadel
The Citadel with its iconic campus located in Charleston, South Carolina, offers a classic military college education for young men and women profoundly focused on leadership excellence and academic distinction.
