Donald Braswell II Opera singer (tenor) and actor Date of Birth: 22.02.1963 Country: USA

1. Biography of Donald Braswell II
2. Discovering His Passion for Opera
3. Rise to Fame and Tragic Accident
4. A Second Debut and Inspiring Others

Biography of Donald Braswell II

Donald Braswell II was born in 1963 in San Antonio, Texas, United States, to parents Donald and Jane Braswell. Both of his parents were Broadway actors, so Donald grew up surrounded by a creative atmosphere. From a young age, he was drawn to music and theatre, but he kept his passion hidden from his friends and classmates. He would participate in productions in the evenings without telling anyone. It was on stage that he felt natural and at ease.

After finishing school, Braswell started working at Six Flags while studying at Tyler Jr. College. He later transferred to the prestigious University of Texas at San Antonio, where he graduated in 1983. Hoping to pursue a career as a professional actor, Donald moved to New York and enrolled in acting schools affiliated with various studios. He also started taking vocal lessons from Marni Nixon, a renowned performer and actress known for her roles in films like "The King and I" and "West Side Story".

Discovering His Passion for Opera

However, Donald's true passion was not acting, but his beloved Julie Clayburne. They met at the age of 11 and fell in love at 15. After returning to Texas, Braswell proposed to Julie, and they got married, starting to plan their future together. Donald worked as a singing waiter at Ye Kendall Inn, but his salary was not enough to make ends meet. One day, Julie suggested that Donald apply to the Juilliard School in New York. Despite having little hope, he fulfilled his beloved's wish. A few weeks later, he received a letter informing him that he had been accepted into the school and received a scholarship. That same autumn, he sat at his desk in one of America's most famous schools.

After completing his studies, Braswell trained under the renowned Franco Bertacci, who focused on developing his voice and vocal abilities. Within a few months, Donald became the winner of the Liederkranz Foundation Vocal Competition, held at the Lincoln Center in New York. He also received a grant from the Puccini Foundation (now The Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation).

Rise to Fame and Tragic Accident

Over the years, Braswell became one of the most famous contemporary operatic tenors, performing leading roles in productions such as "Faust," "Roméo et Juliette," "Madame Butterfly," "Le Roi Arthus," and many others. He toured extensively, visiting most European countries, traveling across America, and performing in other countries worldwide. Donald reached the pinnacle of success, but then his life took a tragic turn.

In the fall of 1995, while riding his bicycle home, Donald was hit by a car at full speed during a turn. His injuries were life-threatening, but doctors managed to revive him. Unfortunately, the main impact was on his throat, making it impossible for him to sing or even speak easily. For a long time, he couldn't communicate verbally, but as soon as he could make any sounds, he began relearning how to sing. Following a specially designed course, he performed dozens of exercises daily, hoping to restore the elasticity of his vocal cords. Eventually, he started singing again, starting with performances at the local church and gradually appearing at events.

A Second Debut and Inspiring Others

In 2000, Donald made his second debut performance with the San Antonio Symphony. He then played the leading role in "Camelot" and participated in several lesser-known productions. However, he no longer dreamed of a serious career in music, working in several car companies and as a designer.

In 2007, Donald's wife sent a recording of his performance to "America's Got Talent." He couldn't believe it when he received a call inviting him to the live auditions. Although he didn't win, he made it to the top five contestants. Today, Braswell continues to give concerts in America. He sincerely hopes that his music and challenging biography will inspire people and make them believe that nothing is impossible in life – they just have to believe in themselves.