For now-retired opera singer Philip Bologna, his talent as a tenor brought him across the world and to many audiences. Though he may not be singing professionally anymore, he is singing to a much younger audience, to schoolchildren on his bus route in Rochester. Have no fear though, as Philip Bologna, 63, states he enjoys every minute of what he does.
Mr. Bologna once shared his voice with music connoisseurs all over the globe, becoming one of 11 national winners at the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions in 1984. Then, he was among the young elite of opera singers in the nation.
As he grew so did his voice, and he felt the texture and tone of his operatic tenor turned sharp, forcing him into early retirement. He then moved shop to Anoka, Minnesota where he became conductor of the opera there. However, the hardships faced by major orchestras across the nation struck home and when the theatre folded he moved onto other ventures.
Mr. Bologna, also, helped establish the Lyric Arts Co. of Anoka and became drama director of the Elk River High School.
Nonetheless, his duties and a husband and father ultimately drove him to find work elsewhere and so he landed in Rochester. The parental responsibilities even inspired him to take up a job as a bus driver for local special needs students.
His talents are still used for the greater good, to tame the riders on his bus route. When his youngsters get rowdy and out-of-hand he turns to his operatic voice as a way to sooth the savage beasts. For one special needs student, Jonah, Mr. Bologna has made the student's every day venture to school a little bit more enjoyable, singing Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin tunes at the end of Jonah's driveway every morning.
In what capacity is a singer's voice most important? Is it to the acclaim of millions of learned listeners or to a small group of students who hang on every note? The answer, in Mr. Bologna's case, lies with the youthful ears of Rochester.
Listen to Philip Bologna sing below as he still has it after all these years.
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