Official Bio

Bass-Baritone Renato Estacio (Former State of New Mexico Commissioner of Music, 2014 - 2019) grew up on Yokosuka Naval Base in Yokosuka, Japan, where his father served in the US Navy. Renato is a professional entertainer with a background in Broadway show revues, having performed for casinos (1100+ seats), private and public  events, and private parties. In 2023, he was the music director and head coach for the TV series Broadway Bound Live!  In June 2024, Renato sang with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble (Off-Broadway, NY), returned to Teatro Miela as Count Almaviva (Maestro Vitiello) in Italy, and sang in a special concert of arias at Teatro Verdi (Italy). Renato is currently based out of Albuquerque, NM and is the recipient of several awards in the arts: 1st Prize National Association of Teachers of Singing Sophomore Division; 1st Place Classical Singer West Texas, Marjorie Barrick Opera Scholarship; and the Mark Hamill Award for Fine Arts. Renato has adjudicated singing, acting, and other performance competitions and festivals for over 25 years. Renato is a singer, teacher (mathematics and musical theater/drama), and restaurateur. 

Recently, Renato sang with the Los Alamos Light Opera as a soloist in their Broadway Show Revue, and also sang the roles of Simone and Marco in the opera Gianni Schicchi (Maestro Samuel Otero) in Amersfoort, Netherlands and Count Ceprano / Marullo in Rigoletto also in the Netherlands.

In July and August 2022, Renato sang at Opernfest Berlin (Berlin Opera Festival) as Frank in Die Fledermaus (Maestro Valter Borin) and studied the role of Sarastro for Die Zauberflöte.  

In 2023, Renato made his role debut of Leporello in Don Giovanni with Teatro Miela in Trieste, Italy and returned to Berlin, Germany in July 2023 to sing the lead role of Jupiter and (secondary role of Mars on off nights) in Orphée aux Enfers by Offenbach at Opernfest Berlin (Nic Muni and Dominic Wheeler).

Other credits include Tonio (I Pagliacci), Marco (Gianni Schicchi), Thomas Putnam (The Crucible), Tin Woodsman & Cowardly Lion (Wizard of Oz), Masetto (Don Giovanni), and being a professional casino singer & show host (Broadway revues).

Renato has served as Music Director for the Albuquerque Civic Chorus, Music Director for St. Chad’s, and is the Founder & Artistic Director of the NM Black Cat Cultural Enterprises.  

Renato holds a BA degree in English literature with an emphasis in Theater and a minor in Psychology and is a Magna cum Laude graduate of UNLV with a BMus in Applied Voice, Applied Voice (MMus), and Business (MBA with Marketing emphasis) and is completing an EdD (ABD) in Higher Educational Leadership.