 Following this important win, Robinson left MSU to the Met's development program for young artists, with which Robinson sang leading roles in school performances throughout New York, beginning in 1966.Robinson made her professional opera debut in 1966 with Memphis Opera as the title heroine in Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor" conducted by Fiora Contino.That same year she toured to Rhode Island with the Met to perform the role of the Swallow in the American premiere of Malcolm Williamson's "The Happy Prince".