Aruban-American mezzo-soprano, Erin Koolman, holds a Doctor of Music degree from the Jacobs School of Music in Indiana University where she studied with mezzo-soprano, Patricia Stiles. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Music Education and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from Indiana University and a Master of Music degree from Kansas State University. Erin’s past performances include Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Chicago, Trial by Jury, White Christmas, Hansel and Gretel (Hansel), Dialogues des Carmélites (Mère Jeanne), La Purpura de la Rosa (Cintia/Celfa), La Traviata (Annina), and Ainadamar (Lorca).  Erin has performed scenes from Die Zauberflöte (Dritte Dame), Lakmé (Malika), I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Romeo) and Carmen (Carmen).  Erin has had multiple performances abroad including a choir tour in Northern France with Kansas State University choirs, study in Pèrigeuex, France with the Franco-American Vocal Academy, and in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico with OperaMaya. Erin is a strong advocate for the performance of children’s opera, offering her vocal and stage direction talents to Bloomington’s Re-Imagining Opera for Kids and as a collaborator with Amity Trio in their latest tour of Indiana where they presented “Lucrecia y el canto de los Dudasaurios” by Nur Slim. From 2017-2024 she served as staff singer for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Indianapolis where she is still often a featured soloist, most notably in J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion , Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s Magnificat.

Currently Dr. Koolman serves as Instructor of Voice at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she teaches diction, class voice, voice pedagogy, and applied lessons. She continues to perform alongside her colleagues in various capacities ranging from feature faculty soloist with large ensembles to intimate chamber works.

Dr. Koolman is a current board member of the Indiana Arts Council.