Sprauve credits his broad range in part to his St. Thomas origins. He gained some of his early musical experience as a pianist and organist at the Moravian Church. As a teenager, he attended Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan, where he also cultivated his love of foreign languages. The tenor went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Iowa and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance/Pedagogy from the University of Maryland.

He has also studied at the Hochschule Mozarteum Akademie in Saltzburg, Austria, and in Italy.