Carrickfergus born, Northern Irish mezzo-soprano and Samling Foundation Scholar, Carolyn Dobbin, trained on the Opera Theatre Company Young Artist Programme in Dublin and at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. She was Associate Artist at Welsh National Opera 2010-11 and soloist at Luzerner Theatre Switzerland 2012-2014.

In 2019 she performed the role of Smeton in Donizetti’s Anna Bolena at Longborough Festival Opera and performed Fenena in Verdi’s Nabucco and Alisa in Lucia Di Lammermoor for Dorset Opera Festival, performed the role of Mrs Peachum in Mrs Peachum school for love and marriage, as well as recitals, one of which is in the Houses of Parliament.

In opera, Carolyn Dobbin has worked with numerous companies including Irish National Opera, Dorset Opera Festival, English National Opera, Grange Park Opera, English Touring Opera, Northern Ireland Opera, Castleward Opera, Stadttheater Bern (Switzerland), Mid Wales Opera, Opera Della Luna, Opera Holland Park, Opera Theatre Company, The Opera Group and more.

In concert Carolyn Dobbin has performed Handel’s Messiah with the Philharmonia Orchestra; Mozart Requiem at London’s Royal Festival Hall and for RTVE Madrid; Beethoven 9th Symphony at the Barbican Hall, London; Classical Spectacular for Raymond Gubbay Ltd and Messiah, under the baton of Sir David Willcocks, both at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Further appearances include Janacek’s The Diary of One Who Disappeared at the Bath International Festival 2009 with Paul Nilon and Joanna MacGregor.

Carolyn Dobbin has collaborated in concert and opera performances with conductors including Richard Bonynge, Stephen Barlow, Nicholas Cleobury, Sir Richard Armstrong, Richard Egarr, Jane Glover, Paul Hillier, Ryan Wigglesworth, Simon Ible, Stephen Kovacevich, Sir Charles Mackerras, Takuo Yuasa Anthony Negas, Thomas Zehetmair, and appearances with the City of London Sinfonia, Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Orquesta Sinfónica de Radio Televisión Española, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Ten Tors Chamber Orchestra, Schola Cantorum Basiliensis And the Ulster Orchestra.