Born in Cottbus, Robert Franke became a singer after beginning his career as a trombonist.
He received his first musical instruction from his father Joachim Franke, trombonist in the Dresden Philharmonie. From 1994 he studied with the principal trombone of the Dresden Staatskapelle, Manfred Zeumer, at the Spezialschule für Musik in Dresden. In 1996 Franke won first prize in ensemble playing at the German federal competition “Jugend musiziert”. From 1996-2002 he studied in Dresden at the Carl Maria von Weber Musikhochschule and deputized in the Dresden Philharmonie and Dresden Staatskapelle. From 2002 he was engaged as principal trombone in the orchestra of the Saxon state theatres.
In 2005 Robert Franke began private singing instruction with Jörg Hempel in Dresden, followed by a vocal studies course with Elisabeth Werres in Berlin.
He has been a permanent member of Rundfunkchor Berlin since 2008.
