Carolyn Dobbin

N Irish mezzo-soprano Carolyn Dobbin began her career as a teacher of Art & Design before graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Carolyn was a Young Artist for Opera Theatre company Dublin and Associate Artist at Welsh National Opera and spent two years as soloist at Luzern Theatre, Switzerland.

In 2023 she performed Marquis of Berkenfield in La Fille du Regiment and the role of Lene in La Ciociara both at The Wexford International Festival Opera which was broadcast live on RTE TV, Opera Vision eu and ARTETV, Siegrune in Die Walküre for London Opera Company at St John’s Smith Square, Bach B minor with Ulster Orchestra, toured with Cornelia in Giulio Cesare for ETO, and performed the Verdi Requiem in Sloane Square and performed the role of Mary in Der Fliegende Holländer with Sir Bryn Terfel at Grange Park.

Her 2024 performances will include, Siegrune in Die Walküre for Longborough Festival Operas Ring Cycle, She will also perform The sorceress in Dido and Aeneas with Akademy of Alte Musik Berlin Baroque Orchestra and Christian Curnyn in Germany, Mistress Quickly in Falstaff in the UK, the Dvorak Stabat Mater with the Ulster Orchestra conducted by Jac van Steen and a role at Irish National Opera in 2025, two CD recordings of N Irish Art Songs, one with Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside and Amy Ni Fhearraigh and Delphian Records. Other CDs include Caleno, songs of silence, Ethel Smyths Fete gallant and Loders Raymond and Agnes conducted by Richard Bonynge for Retrospect Opera. She continues to collect and promote N Irish composers and set up the Northern Irish Song project, back in 2015. She also adjudicates the Charles Wood Song Competition in Armagh.

She has performed extensively in opera, oratorio and in solo recitals, including appearances at Royal Opera House Linbury Theatre, Scipio in Caligula and Hannah in The Passenger both for English National Opera, The Witch in Hansel and Gretel and Jacqui in Conor Mitchell’s ‘Message for Marty’ in 20 Shots of Opera for Irish National Opera, The Page in Salome and the award winning film ‘Old Friends and Other Days for NI Opera, Teodata Bradamante, Charlotte, Amastre, Penelope for English Touring Opera and Luzerner Theatre, Polina in Pique Dame and Maddalena in Rigoletto both for Grange Park Opera, Suzuki in Madam Butterfly in Ischia and Florence Italy with the South Bank Symphonia, Nicklaus in Hoffman, Madam Popova in The Bear, Concepcion in L’heure Espanol and Mrs Peachum all for Mid Wales opera, Dritte Dame and Meg Page for Opera Holland Park, Annina and Flora in La Traviata both for Stadttheater Bern Switzerland and Carmen at the Royal Albert Hall and at Luzern Theatre Switzerland, Fenena in Nabucco for Dorset Opera, Smetonin Anna Bolena for Longborough and Andronico / Tamerlano for Capella Cracoviensis Kracow. She has performed recitals at the Ludlow Song Festival, concerts at Wigmore Hall, Houses of Parliament, Dubai British Embassy, Royal Festival Hall and Buckingham Palace Throne Room with WNO and at the Edinburgh Festival conducted by Charles Mackerras.

Recordings include Loders rare bel canto opera ‘Raymond and Agnes’ conducted by Richard Bonynge, Ethel Smythes Fétè Gallant conducted by Odaline Martinez both for Retrospect Opera, Lynne Plowman’s Cries Like Silence with the London Mozart Players, conducted by Nicolae Moldoveanu on Avie CD, and a solo CD ‘Caleno’ with Delphian Records and Iain Burnside of songs by N Irish composers. She set up the Northern Irish Song Project which sees her collect promote and record the forgotten songs and manuscripts of N Irish composers. She has performed recitals and operas live on BBC radio 3 ( Cosi fan Tutte, Caligula), Opera Vision, ARTETV, songs on BBCNI tv, BBC Ulster Radio, opera on RTE radio and TV, oratorio on RTVE orchestra Madrid and kinderoper on Swiss radio. She has been kindly awarded in 2024 by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland