CATHERINE ROBBIN

Assistant Professor: Classical Vocal Performance
Department of Music, York University

crobbin@yorku.ca

Honours & Awards | Recordings

One of Canada's best known mezzo-sopranos, Catherine Robbin earned an international reputation during her 30-year career as a performing and recording artist. Noted especially for her interpretation of Baroque and Romantic repertoire, she has appeared with leading conductors and orchestras in recital, concert and opera performances across Canada, the United States, Britain and Europe. Her discography features more than 30 CDs ranging from Vivaldi and Pergolesi cantatas, the songs of C.P.E. Bach and the masses of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, to Mozart and Handel operas and songs of Schumann, Mahler, Duparc and Ravel, on labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, Philips, Teldec, CBC, Marquis and Decca. Her honours include a Juno Award, Gramophone Record of the Year, Grand Prix de Disque and a Grammy nomination.

Professor Robbin is much sought after to adjudicate and conduct masterclasses in art song and lieder performance at festivals and music schools in Canada and the U.S. She is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and serves as president of the Canadian Aldeburgh Foundation, an organization that supports Canadians studying and performing in the Britten-Pears Young Artists program in the U.K.

Professor Robbin joined the faculty in York University's Music Department in 2002 and retired from her public performance career the following year to dedicate herself full-time to teaching. She directs York's classical vocal studies program.