Dr. Robison came to Biola as Coordinator of Vocal Studies in 1995. She received her Bachelor's Degree in music education and her Master's Degree in voice performance at Kent State University. She continued her graduate studies, earning a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Voice Performance at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music. Dr. Robison has sung numerous roles with college opera theatres and professional companies, including the Ohio Light Opera Company, Duluth-Superior Opera Association, Des Moines Metro Summer Opera Festival, and the CCM Opera Theatre and Opera Studio, and has performed with regional orchestras in Ohio, Mississippi, and Arkansas. In 1998 she sang the role of Donna Elvira in the Rome Festival's production of Don Giovanni, and The Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute with the Opera Festival di Roma. She has also directed and staged numerous productions at Biola and at other schools.
Teaching
Dr. Robison's first teaching position was as a Graduate Assistant at Kent State University, from 1974-1976. She taught general music to grades one through five at the University School from 1974-1975 and taught a lab course in general music for elementary education majors the following year. That same year, she was also the Assistant to the Opera Director in Music Theatre and Opera productions.
After her graduate assistance, Dr. Robison became a voice instructor at University of Minnesota, in Duluth from 1976-1979. There she taught private voice to majors, minors, and non-majors, taught lyric diction, assisted in the ensemble program, and was responsible for the musical and vocal preparation of musicals produced by the UMD Theatre Department.
Briefly after leaving UMD, Dr. Robison was a voice instructor at Mansfield University in Mansfield, PA, from 1983-1984, a one-year temporary appointment.There she taught private voice to both major and minors, taught voice class, song literature, and small ensembles, and also served as musical director and conductor for musical presented in conjunction with the theatre
department as well as directing opera workshop productions.
After her temporary position ended at Mansfield, Dr. Robison became Associate Professor of Voice and Director of Opera Workshop at Delta State University in
Cleveland, MS, from 1984-1988.There she taught private voice to majors, taught vocal pedagogy and literature, gave a beginning opera workshop class and produced main stage opera productions, and entered many students in competitions.
After leaving Delta State, Dr. Robison moved to Siloam Springs, AR, to be the Associate Professor of Music at John Brown University from 1988-1995. While she was there, she taught private voice to both majors and non-majors, taught beginning opera workshop class, producing main stage opera productions where she was responsible for musical preparation, stage direction, and occasionally costume design. She also taught lyric diction and vocal pedagogy. As a voice teacher, she was active in entering students in competitions, including NATS Regional and State Conference Competitions.
Later Dr. Robison was offered a position in the growing Conservatory of Music at Biola University, and has been Coordinator of Vocal Studies at Biola University from 1995-present. As Coordinator, she oversees the activities of the voice department, including voice workshop (a weekly performance opportunity for voice students to work in a mini-master class setting with their teachers and peers), master classes with teachers from all over the country, teacher assignments, academic advising, auditions of prospective voice majors, and recruitment of new students. Dr. Robison also teaches private voice to primarily vocal performance (BM) majors assigned to her studio. She is active in involving her students in local and regional vocal competitions, such as NATS or SongFest, where her students have often placed. As the director of the yearly opera productions, she produces and directs a main stage opera once a year in the Opera Workshop program she created in 1995 when she joined the Biola faculty. As a professor, she teaches lyric diction, song literature, and vocal pedagogy.
Vocal Coach
Anything Goes, UMD, 1978.
Carnival, UMD Summer Theatre, 1978.
Fantastiks, UMD Summer Theatre, 1979.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, UMD Summer Theatre, 1980.
South Pacific, UMD Summer Theatre, 1980.
Vocal Coach and Conductor
Fiddler on the Roof, UMD Summer Theatre, 1979.
Company, Mansfield University, 1984.
Director
The Marriage of Figaro, Biola University Opera Workshop, 2009.
The Merry Wives of Windsor, Biola University Opera Workshop, 2008.
Carmen, Biola University Opera Workshop, 2007.
The Magic Flute, Biola University Opera Workshop, 2006.
The Magic Flute, Biola University Opera Workshop, 2001.
Cosi fan tutte, Biola University Opera Workshop, 1998.
Scenes from La Boheme, Suor Angelica and Madama Butterfly, Biola University Opera Workshop,1997.
HMS Pinafore, (Gilbert and Sullivan), Biola University Opera Workshop, 1997.
Scenes from Cosi fan tutte and The Marriage of Figaro, Biola University Opera Workshop, 1996.
The Mikado (Gilbert and Sullivan), JBU Opera Workshop, 1995.
Scenes from Cosi fan tutte, The Magic Flute, and The Impresario, JBU Opera Workshop, 1995.
The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart), JBU Opera Workshop, 1994.
Sweet Betsy from Pike (Bucci) and The Medium (Menotti), JBU Opera Workshop, 1993.
The Pirates of Penzance (Gilbert and Sullivan), JBU Opera Workshop, 1992.
Scenes from The Mikado, Don Giovanni, Norma, The Medium, and Die Fledermaus, JBU Opera
Workshop, 1992.
Patience (Gilbert and Sullivan), JBU Opera Workshop, 1992.
The Telephone (Menotti) and Suor Angelica (Puccini), JBU Opera Workshop, 1991.
Scenes from Cosi fan tutte, The Magic Flute, and The Merry Wives of Windsor, JBU Opera Workshop, 1990.
The Old Maid and The Thief (Menotti), JBU Opera Workshop, 1987.
Scenes from The Marriage of Figaro, JBU Opera Workshop, 1989.
Sweet Betsy from Pike and scenes from The Merry Wives of Windsor, DSU Opera Theatre Workshop, 1988.
The Medium, DSU Opera Theatre Workshop, 1988.
Trouble in Tahiti (Bernstein) and scenes from Cosi fan tutte, DSU Opera Theatre Workshop, 1987.
The Old Maid and the Thief, DSU Opera Theatre Workshop, 1987.
The Telephone and Gianni Schicchi, DSU Opera Theatre Workshop, 1986.
Scenes from Cosi fan tutte and The Magic Flute, DSU Opera Theatre Workshop, 1985.
The Medium, Opera Workshop, Mansfield University, 1983.
Scenes from Carmen, Suor Angelica, Aida, Un Ballo in maschera, Otello, and Regina for performances by the CCM opera Workshop and Opera Studio, and for Lecture Recital, University
of Cincinnati, 1982-1983.
Production
Courses and seminars in opera direction, make-up, costume history, costume design, and stage
craft,
Designed costumes for all DSU Opera Theatre productions, including scene programs, and all
scene programs at JBU.
Designed and constructed costumes for productions of Die Klüge (Orff) and Dido and Aeneas
(Purcell), Kent State University, 1976.
Church
Music Director, Greenleaf Baptist Church, Whittier, CA, 1996.
Music Director, Yale Street Baptist Church, Cleveland, MS, 1986-1987.
Director of Youth Choir, Kenwood Baptist Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1982-1983.
Theses
"One-Act Opera Comique from 1800-1810: A Comparison of Scores by Henri-Montan Berton and Nicolo
Isouard." D.M.A. Thesis, College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, March, 1986.
"The Disposizione Sceniche: The Use of the Original Production Books in the Direction and Performance
of Verdi’s Operas." D.M.A. Lecture-Recital, College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati,
May, 1983.
"Manon Lescaut: A Comparison of the Character as She Is Represented in the Operas of Massenet and
Puccini." Master’s Thesis, Kent State University, 1979.
Performing Experience
Performing Organizations
Rome Festival
Operafestival di Roma
Biola Opera Workshop
Biola University Orchestra
American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) Orchestra, Graz, Austria
Northwest Arkansas Symphony
John Brown University (JBU) Opera Workshop
JBU Cathedral Choir
Lakeside Symphony Association,Lakeside, Ohio
Delta State University (DSU) Opera Theatre Workshop
DSU Choral Union
Greenville Symphony, Greenville, MS
College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) Opera Theatre and Opera Studio
Marietta Symphonette
Des Moines Metro Opera Summer Festival
Duluth-Superior Symphony Opera Association
University of Minnesota, Duluth (UMD) Opera Theatre
Savoyard Dinner Theatre, Cleveland ,OH
Kent State University (KSU) Light Opera Company, Kent, OH
KSU Opera Workshop
KSU Chorale
Operatic Roles Performed
Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni (Mozart), Rome Festival, 1998.
Die Königen (The Queen of the Night), The Magic Flute, Dorabella, Cosi fan tutte (Mozart), Operafestival di Roma, 1998.
(Mozart), Biola Opera Workshop, 1998.
Madame Goldentrill, The Impresario (Mozart), JBU Opera Workshop, 1995.
Lucy, The Telephone (Menotti), DSU Opera Theatre, 1986, and JBU Opera Workshop,
1991.
Berta, The Barber of Seville (Rossini), CCM Opera Theatre, 1982.
Parasha, Mavra (Stravinsky), CCM Opera Studio, 1982.
Fiametta, Prima Donna (Arthur Benjamin), CCM Opera Studio, 1981.
Gilda, Rigoletto, (Verdi), Lexington, 1981. (concert version with piano)
Amelia, Amelia Goes to the Ball (Menotti), UMD Opera Theatre, 1978.
Laetitia and Miss Pinkerton, The Old Maid and the Thief *(Menotti), UMD Opera Theatre, on tour
1977-1979.
Kate Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly (Puccini), Duluth-Superior Symphony Opera Association, 1977.
Die Klüge, Die Klüge (Orff), KSU Opera Workshop ,1776.
Elisabetta, The Secret Marriage (Cimarosa), KSU Opera Workshop, 1975.
Partial Roles Performed
Norma, Norma
Madama Butterfly, Madama Butterfly
Despina, Cosi fan tutte
Fiordiligi, Cosi fan tutte
Desdemona, Otello
Rosalinda, Die Fledermaus
Violetta, La Traviata
Mrs. Page, Sir John in Love (Vaughn Williams)
Lucia, The Rape of Lucretia (Britten)
Manon, Manon
Mrs. Ford, The Merry Wives of Windsor (Nicholai)
Susanna, The Marriage of Figaro
Susannah, Susannah (Floyd)
Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni
Mimi, La Bohème
Blonde, The Abduction from the Seraglio
Operetta and Musicals
Performed lead, minor and chorus roles in a number of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas with Kent
State Light Opera Company (now The Ohio Light Opera Company), during the summers of 1974-
1976 including The Gondoliers, H.M.S. Pinafore, Iolanthe, The Mikado, Patience, The Pirates of Penzance, Princess Ida, Ruddigore, The Sorcerer, Trial by Jury. Yeomen of the Guard, and Utopia.
Eliza, My Fair Lady, Sager Creek Arts Center, 1992.
Roles Studied
Manon, Manon (Massenet)
Thais, Thais (Massenet)
Oratorio Roles
Soprano soloist, Messiah (Handel), Greenville Symphony, 1985 and 1986; First Baptist Church,
Cleveland, MS, 1886; First Baptist Church, Mansfield, PA, 1983; and Marietta Symphonette, 1979.
Soprano Soloist, Requiem (Mozart), Delta State Choral Union, Cleveland, MS, 1985.
Other
Soprano Soloist, Carmina Burana (Orff), Biola University Orchestra and Chorale, 1999.
Soprano Soloist, Cheshire Canticles (Bernstein), Biola University Orchestra and Chorale, 1996.
Soprano soloist, Requiem (Weber), Northwest Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, 1994.
Soprano soloist, Gloria (Poulenc), JBU Cathedral Choir, 1991.
Soprano soloist, Ninth Symphony (Beethoven), Lakeside Symphony, 1987.
Recitals
Faculty Recitals, Biola University, 1996, 1997, 1998 (2), 1999.
Works performed include songs by Ives, Debussy, Grieg, Liszt, Poulenc, Rodrigo, Schubert, and
Strauss; Argento’s Six Elizabethan songs and Songs about Spring, Debussy’s Quatre Chanson de
jeunesse, Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate, Poulenc’s La Courte paille; arias from Mozart’s Così fan tutte
and Don Giovanni, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Verdi’s La Traviata and a recital of Puccini
favorites.
Faculty Recitals, John Brown University, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1983.
Works performed include songs by Chopin, Macdowell, Mahler, Purcell, Victor Herbert, and
Bachelet; arias from Giulio Cesare (Handel), Les Hugenots (Meyerbeer), La Sonnambula (Bellini),
and La Traviata (Verdi); Der Hirt auf dem Felsen (Schubert), Frauenliebe und -Leben (Schumann),
Arièttes oubliées (Debussy), Chanson de Ronsard (Milhaud), Cycle of Holy Songs (Rorem), and
Poème de l’amour et de la mer (Chausson). Also gave recital comprised entirely of Puccini arias and
duets.
Faculty Recitals, Delta State University, 1985 and 1988.
Works performed include songs by Duparc, Fauré, and Wolf; both soprano arias from Lucia di
Lammermoor; Three Songs (Walton); and Jauchzett Gott in allen Landen (Bach).
Faculty Recitals, Mansfield University, 1984-1984.
Works performed include Deux Poèmes de Ronsard (Roussel), Four Fragments from The Canterbury
Tales (Trimble), Hermit Songs (Barber), I Never Saw Another Butterfly (Ellwood Derr), and
L’Impatience (Rameau).
Doctoral Recitals, College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, 1980-1983.
Works performed include songs by Schubert and A. Scarlatti, Air chantées (Poulenc), Bretano
Lieder (Strauss), and Chansons de Ronsard (Milhaud).
Faculty Recitals, University of Minnesota, Duluth, 1977-1978.
Works performed include Ariettes oubliées, Cycle of Holy Songs, Knoxville Summer of 1916
(Barber), and Les Illuminations de Rimbaud (Britten),
Master’s Recitals, Kent State University, 1975-1976.
Works performed include songs by Arnold Bax, Joseph Haas, Fauré, and Debussy; Liebeslieder
(Wilhelm Gross), Peterisms (Warlock), and Three Songs (Walton).
Television
NBC Today Show, Good Friday, 1975. Leading role of Virgin Mary in excerpts from the medieval
passiontide play Planctus Marie.
Arts Express, Kentucky Educational Television, 1982. Excerpt from Otello, Act IV.
Professional Organizations
Member of National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) since 1985.
Vice-President, Arkansas Chapter 1994-95.
President, Arkansas Chapter, 1995-96.