Jason Robinette

In the spring of 2005, Jason started Park & Bark Opera with the goal of bringing opera, the world's most passionate music, to the people through live performances and in-school outreach to NYC public schools. "Kids need to know that they can express themselves in any way. They can choose to sing opera, and they can share their love and spirit with others through their own personal voice. Opera is just one possibility, and I'd like to show them that it's for everyone."

Known by friends and family for having an incredible imagination and creative spirit, Jason has established himself as one of the most sought after musical talents on the NYC and greater New York classical music scene. Internationally known as a game designer, his effortless ability to create something out of nothing has earned him a place in the international gaming community as a great sounding board for new gaming ideas and the business of the gaming world.

He was born in San Francisco, California into a family with two fun-loving, game-loving and imaginative parents. Their "can-do", "go try anything" attitude definately influenced Jason's view of life. He is the second-eldest of four kids including his older brother, and adopted younger twin sisters. From his parents and grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings, Jason learned that love has no limits and that having a passion for a something astonomy, math, arts and crafts, classic rock, travel and performing arts enables one to be able to use those passions as a way to express love of life.

Like most teenage kids, Jason didn't know exactly what he wanted to be when he grew up. He knew he wanted to do great things, but wasn't sure exactly how to do them or what exactly they would be. As a youngster he got recruited into singing in junior high school and high school choirs simply because it seemed like a fun thing to do. Besides, his older brother was doing it, and he looked like he was having fun; so Jason figured: why not join?

After touring Europe and Russia with his college choir, Jason was definitly hooked. He could see the world and experience a bond with fellow musicians that only other artists can understand. He earned an opera vocal performance scholarship to attend Chico State where he honed his craft. Eventually he outgrew Chico State and found himself moving to New York City to futher pursue vocal performance training at Julliard.

No one in Jason's family has a passion for, well, classical and opera music. Even though his journey seemed somewhat foreign to his family, it was ultimately supported. That is no one except for his late-grandmother, a renaissance woman in her own right, who frequently listened to classical music, painted and loved her family intensely. It wasn't until later in life that Jason realized how much an impact her love of classical music had on him.

He lived in NYC, pursued a vocal performance degree and found himself working in corporate america during the dotcom boom. He brefriended the local gaming community where other like-minded souls from all walks of life would appreciate is love for trading card games, comicbooks and all that culture had to offer. Many of his friends didn't even know he could sing, and it was their love of him as a friend that taught Jason a sound balance of one who for all intense and purposes lives duals lives: the life of the opera vocalist and the life of a regular Joe living life. No matter what he pursued his creativity was always evident.

If one were to take this creative mind and place it within the highly creative world of the performing arts, one would find new life being breathed into century, in some cases centuries old matieral. Jason is noted as having a clarion voice, with a massive presence - one that can rival a lion's roar. Occassionally begged to join opera companies last minute to fill the void. His sensitivity to his craft is aparent when one sees him playing out the what if scenarios when working on his character development. He always striving for musical interpretations based on a sense of truth and honesty from within. While singing Handel, or Mendelsson, Jason effortlessly sings through measures of music with a 'tank' of breath that seems endless. While singing opera his passion for the craft of acting becomes evident as his sense of doing and movement rallies his interpretation to the next level of musicality.

Oftentimes his voice tamber has been compared to late and greats like Caruso, Gigli, and Björling, but there is indeed a newness there...a vibrant life-filled sound.

Most recently, Jason performed the role of Escamillo with the Bronx Opera's production of Carmen. Last spring, he appeared as Emile de Becque in South Pacific with the Orchestra of the Bronx. Jason performed the role of Renzo in the staged premiere of Un Racconto Fiorentino with the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera. Jason Robinette has appeared in a variety of featured solo performances with the Grace Church Choral Society, as well as Carnegie Hall performances with the Manhattan Chorale, and with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in Lincoln Center . Mr. Robinette has participated in the Aspen Music Festival Summer Program, and has a healthy appreciation for all things Star Wars.

Jason currently lives in Manhattan with his wife MaryAnne "Mim" Paquin.