Ms. Robin Follman

Academic Biography

Acclaimed educator, performer and recording artist Robin Follman is described as a soprano with "the whole package." With a devoted following, world-class performance schedule, extensive educational resume and an artistic style entirely her own, Robin's integrity in the performance and education of noted operatic, contemporary classical, crossover, and concert repertoires makes her an eminent model for singers in the 21st century.   As an educator, her achievements have included the development and training of young, up-and-coming singers in southern California, across the United States and around the world.

During her tenure, 2002-2009, as Artistic Director and Director of the Opera & Choral Conservatory at the Orange County High School of the Arts in Santa Ana, California, Ms. Follman transformed the artistic programs into one of the most competitive and renowned middle and high school arts public-charter arts/academic instructions.  Graduates have been excepted to the highest level educational facilities in the county such as Julliard, Harvard, Yale, Manhattan School of Music, Indiana University, Northwestern and many more.

In the summer of 2009, Ms. Follman has co-written with Robin Wilson an opera specifically focused for the middle and high school age student, “Vampire Victories” based on Giuseppe Verdi’s operatic compositions.  She will direct and produce this production for the Orange County High School of the Arts with this as the launching production of OCHSA’s annual Opera Camp.

In addition to her accomplishments at OCHSA, Ms. Follman is the co-founder of the Professional Opera Singers' Association (P.O.S.A) in Southern California, offering competitions and master classes for elementary through university age students.  From 1995 until 1999, She was also the founder and Artistic Director of the private conservatory, The Singers Academy, an educational and training facility for young singers in the Orange County area.

Ms. Follman’s other educational accomplishments include teaching master classes in Europe, Asia and across North America, where she had the opportunity to guide individual singers in various stages of vocal development – beginning through professional.   Other achievements include her appointment as artist in residence at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; vocal instructor for Opera Pacific's Summer Opera Camp; and Summer at the Center with the Orange County High School of the Arts and the Orange County Performing Arts Center.  She is also the keynote guest artist/speaker for the 2006 Classical Singer Convention in Philadelphia, presenter for the Opera America organization in 2005 and 2006, and presenter for the 2006 Classical Singer Convention in San Francisco.

In 2008, Ms, Follman was honored with the title “Artist of the Year” for the Arts Orange County Organization as well as nominated for “Educator of the Year 2008” with Arts Orange County. In 2009, The Orange County Department of Education selected her to receive the “Outstanding Contributions to Education” Award for having shared many significant contributions that benefited students and schools in Orange County.  Additionally, she was highlighted as one of the “Women in Business 2009” by the Orange County Business Journal for her commitment to bringing the operatic art form to Orange County Audiences. After the closure of Opera Pacific earlier this year, Ms. Follman worked to restore the local community’s interest in the art of opera and encourage the next generation of world-class artists to follow in her footsteps.  

She collaborated with internationally renowned maestro Steven Mercurio (Andrea Bocelli’s conductor) to bring together some of today’s most esteemed opera singers and professional musicians to mentor and perform alongside Orange County High School of the Arts students in “Operatic Fusion” at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

Presently, she is a member of NATS and the Musical Arts Club Foundation and has been named in Who's Who Among America's Teachers, 2002-2007.  Ms. Follman earned a bachelor’s of arts in psychology with a minor in music from Indiana University at Bloomington.