Zorman was born in Šmarje, Slovenia (then part of Austria-Hungary). Zorman's family emigrated from Austria-Hungary to the United States when he was four years old. After returning to Slovenia for one year, when he was ten years old, Zorman immersed himself in the study of Slovene and culture. He graduated from Western Reserve University with degrees in language, literature and music. He went on to teach organ, piano, and voice for Slovene societies while serving as an organist at St. Lawrence Catholic Church.
