Bruce was born in Reading, Pennsylvania and now lives in Edinburgh. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music in the USA and a Masters in Composition from Edinburgh University.

Bruce started his career as a trumpet player, including a time with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. He has also conducted numerous shows and concerts and has held the post of Musical Director for Edinburgh Grand Opera (96-98) and Perth Choral Society (94-04). He has conducted many orchestras including members of the BBC SSO, and the orchestra of Scottish Opera.

Bruce has been singing with the chorus of Scottish Opera since 2003. He is also one third of the operatic tenor trio, R3 tenors, who perform extensively throughout Scotland and the North of England. He has a wide experience in the choral repertoire having sung with Choral Societies up and down the country. As his first major role, Bruce sang Radames in Aida. More recently Bruce sang the role of the Marshallin's Major Domo in Scottish Opera’s production of Der Rosenkavalier, and covered the role of Normanno in Scottish Opera's production of Lucia di Lammermoor.