Born in Oberpullendorf, Kulman achieved the Matura in 1991. She studied Russian, and musicology. She was a choir singer in several notable choirs in Vienna, including Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Concentus Vocalis Wien, Wiener Singakademie, Wiener Kammerchor and . She began voice studies in 1995 at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien with Helena Lazarska. She completed her studies in both Oper and Lied und Oratorium as a master of arts mit Auszeichnung. She was immediately engaged to appear as Pamina in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte at the Wiener Volksoper in 2001, followed by other Mozart roles such as the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni.
