Robert Gruca is an exciting guitarist who performs a wide range of solo, chamber, and orchestral music from the classical guitar repertoire. In recent seasons he has played solo concerts in over a dozen venues in the United States, including Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York, as well as Ontario, Canada. He has been described as a "wonderful and engaging performer" "bringing passion and artistry to his performance."

In 2004, he toured the eastern United States and Europe with the Cleveland Orchestra performing Mahler's Symphony No. 7 under the direction of Franz Welser-Most. Other performances with the Cleveland Orchestra include Kurt Weill's Little Three Penny Music, Igor Stravinsky's Le Rossignol under the baton of Pierre Boulez, and Howard Shore's The Lord of the Rings Symphony with Howard Shore conducting. Robert Gruca made his concerto debut performing Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez with the Marquette Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Nuvi Mehta.

With his expressive and nuanced musical interpretation and his complete technical command over the instrument, Robert Gruca won first prizes in the Columbus State Guitar Symposium Competition, the Appalachian State Guitar Festival Competition, and the East Carolina University Guitar Festival Competition. He was a top prize winner in the Rantucci International Guitar Competition and a semifinalist in both the Guitar Foundation of America Competition and the JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition. He also received the 2007 Distinguished Alumni award from Grand Valley State University, Department of Music.

Robert Gruca studied with John Holmquist and Jason Vieaux at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he received a Master of Music degree. He is described by both Holmquist and Vieaux as "one of the most talented guitarist" of his generation. Previous teachers include Brian Morris of Grand Valley State University and Roger Humphrey of Olivet College. He has participated in master classes with such prominent guitarists as David Russell, Lily Afshar, Judicael Perroy, Stephen Robinson, Sergio & Odair Assad, Hubert Kappel, Antigoni Goni, and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.

In a 2006 compact disc, Robert Gruca recorded solo guitar works by Bogdanovic, Koshkins, Dyens, Rodrigo, Schubert and J.S. Bach. He has recently completed a recording of several pieces by Handel including some original transcriptions. That compact disc will be released under the MSR record label in 2010.

In addition to performing, Robert Gruca is a highly motivated and dedicated guitar instructor who has a private guitar studio in University Heights and Shaker Height, Ohio.