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Since arriving in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1993, Robin Hansen has been performing and directing in both professional and church settings. After a hiatus from operatic works, Robin has recently added several new productions and companies to her schedule. An opera highlight in recent years was the opportunity to sing Marcellina in THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO with San Francisco Cabaret Opera. In 2006, she chorus mastered and created and ran supertitles for Mission City Opera's productions of CARMEN and MAGIC FLUTE in Santa Clara, CA; she also chorus mastered for Golden Gate Opera (San Rafael, CA) for their CARMEN in September, 2005, as well as performing with the chorus onstage. Robin performed the role of Alms Sister 1 in GGO's production of SUOR ANGELICA in the spring of 2006, and in June 2006, Robin sang in Trinity Lyric Opera's production of Ralph Vaughn-Williams' PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. Spring 2008 featured performances with Mission City Opera in MADAMA BUTTERFLY (Aunt), and more recently, Robin again ran supertitles for MCO for their production of LA BOHEME. For the past 3 years, Robin has also sung with the STOCTET, a 22-voice choir based in Campbell, CA performing 2 concerts yearly. She has just celebrated her 11th season with Masterworks Chorale, a semi-professional chorus based at College of San Mateo, CA.
In addition to classical repertoire, Robin celebrated a return to Musical Theater in spring, 2007 - performing in Hillbarn Theatre's sell-out production of THE MUSIC MAN. She performed for 5 seasons with The Highlighters, a group of artists presenting previews for Broadway by the Bay. In fall 2008 Robin was Nimue in CAMELOT at Pacifica Spindrift Players, and in fall of 2009 she played Queen Aggravaine in ONCE UPON A MATTRESS with Sunnyvale Community Players.
Robin was manager/director of an intimate vocal ensemble, BRIO, presenting holiday and other choral repertoire to discriminating audiences in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the San Mateo Kiwanis, San Mateo Retired Teachers Association, AAUW, Spinsters of San Francisco, a concert at Meadowood Winery, a guest appearance with the Peninsula Pops and two full-length concerts for the Foster City Art and Culture Committee.
Past season performances included soprano soloist in the “Lord Nelson Mass” with Masterworks Chorale. She also performed the role of The Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Masterworks. In 2003, she performed a featured role in “A Grand Night for Rodgers & Hammerstein” presented by the San Carlos Kiwanis Club, and sang opera and musical theater selections for a benefit concert for the San Mateo Interfaith Hospitality Network.
Robin received her pre-college “basic training” in 5 seasons of 19th Century Repertory Theatre at Washington State University’s Summer Palace. This was a well rounded experience including performing in the marching band and as a dance hall gal, as well as acting in such favorites as Bertha, the Sewing Machine Girl, Under the Gaslight, and The Tragical History of Richard the Third. With the Cornell Savoyards she appeared in 7 Gilbert & Sullivan productions, notably as the Plaintiff in Trial by Jury and as Rose Maybud in Ruddigore.
She spent 8 years in New York City, where she performed leading roles in The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, Ruddigore, Iolanthe, and Patience with the NY Gilbert & Sullivan Players and appeared in several operas and concerts with the Bronx Opera and Brooklyn Opera Society. She also performed in productions of Showboat, Man of La Mancha, Pal Joey, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Fantasticks, and in children’s theater productions in Manhattan and Long Island.
Before coming to the Bay Area, Robin spent 7 seasons as chorister with Seattle Opera, singing with such local favorites as Carol Vaness and Ruth Ann Swenson, and embodying nobles, urchins, spirits and ladies of the evening as required by the librettist’s pen and the whim (or whimsy) of world-class directors and conductors. During this time she also made her debut as Queen of the Night in Boise Opera’s Magic Flute, performed leading roles in Ohio Light Opera’s productions of The Vagabond King, HMS Pinafore, and Strauss’ Wiener Blut, was a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in Seattle, and appeared as soloist with the Seattle Choral Company performing the “Brindisi” and Violetta’s double aria from La Traviata. Her time with Seattle opera was bookended with THE BALLAD OF BABY DOE as her first and last productions with that company (as chorus and Friend of Augusta, respectively).
Robin lives in San Mateo, CA where she has been teaching voice since 2001. She has taught K-5 classroom music at St. Raymond School in Menlo Park since 2008. In Joyful Voice Studio, she loves teaching voice for beginning to intermediate singers, age 8 to 89.
Robin Hansen * 515A S. El Dorado Street * San Mateo, CA 94402 * (650) 278-2707 * joyfulvoice@sbcglobal.net