Carrickfergus born Carolyn Dobbin, mezzo-soprano and Samling Scholar, began her career as a teacher of Art and Design before commencing the Opera course at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama which she completed in 2005 under the tuition of Patricia MacMahon. She also studied part time at the National Opera Studio and completed Opera Theatre Company’s Young Artist Programme in 2006

Full Operatic roles performed at the RSAMD include Idamante (Idomeneo 2003), Cherubino (Figaro 2004), Squirrel (L’enfant et les sortileges 2003), Dido (Dido and Aeneas 2004) and performed the role of Ottavia (Poppea) in 2005 and roles studied in part are Rosina, Cenerentola, Madam Poppova, Carmen, Octavian and Lucretia. For Castleward Opera Carolyn has sung the roles of Maddalena (Rigoletto 2004), Alisa (Lucia di Lammermoor 2002), The Plaintiff (Trial by Jury 2002) and Barbarina ( le nozze di Figaro 2001). Carolyn performed the role of Brautjungfern in Der Freischutz with Sir Charles Mackerras in the Edinburgh Festival and performed scenes with the National Opera Studio accompanied by the Orchestra of Scottish Opera in February 2005. Conducted by Richard Egarr she took part in the Britten-Pears performance of Handels L’allegro and she sang the role of ‘First Witch’ in Dido and Aeneas with his Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment at the Barbican. Carolyn appeared as Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, directed by Sir Thomas Allen in the Samling Foundations inaugural operatic presentation at Gateshead’s new Sage Theatre which was broadcast live on BBC Radio3. She has performed the roles of Lisetta from Haydn’s Il mondo della Luna, Zulma in the Italian girl in Algiers, Concepcion in L’heure Espanole, Chloe in The Shops for the opera group, covered Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus and Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor at Scottish Opera, Malcolm from La donna del lago at Garsington opera, Venus and nurse at English National opera and Meg in Falstaff at Welsh National Opera. This summer she will perform the role of Second Lady At Holland Park which is directed by Simon Callow and conducted by Jane Glover and the role of Nicklauss in The Tales of Hoffmann for Mid Wales opera from September to November.

Carolyn has appeared as guest soloist and given recitals throughout the UK and Europe and worked on the sound track for the film ‘Solid Air’ which was premiered at the Edinburgh Festival. Carolyn formed part of a group of musicians called Transfusion including John Wallace and performed a variety of music including De Falla’s Siete Canciones populares Espanolas at the Kilkenny Festival 2003 and again in 2005 with OTC. She has also performed with Patricia MacMahon and the acclaimed accompanist, Malcolm Martineau in a recital in Edinburgh. She sang in Opera Gala concerts in Oslo, Malta, recently at the ClassicFM Two Moors festival, performed Mahler’s Ruckert lieder in Glasgow and Montsalvatge’s Canciones Negras at Rosemary Street Belfast and recently on St Patricks night at the Ulster Hall. Carolyn sang with the Ulster Orchestra in an Opera Gala evening and gave a recital at Leighton House, Holland Park and performed at the Cadogan Hall, London. She performed Schumanns Maria Stuart in Belfast, Ravels Sheherazade in Oxford, Schumanns Frauenliebe und Lebe at The Classic FM’s Two Moors Festival , Elgars Sea Pictures and Music Makers at the Lanercost Festival. Carolyn also sang the National anthems at Hampden Park which was televised live on Sky TV. She will give recitals in Belfast, Edinburgh university and Glasgow throughout 2008.

Oratorio performances include Vivaldi's Gloria at Kelvingrove, Mozart's Requiem in Stirling, Haydn's Heiligmesse, Handel’s Coronation Anthems, Schubert’s Mass in Bb, The Russian Requiem by Elis Pehkonen with the Aberdeen Bach Choir and Handel’s Messiah with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra at the Usher Hall and again with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and in The Royal Albert Hall and in New York. She also performed St Johns Passion in Glasgow Cathedral, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Schubert’s Magnificat and Mozart's Solemn Vespers in Scotland, the Maria Theresa Mass by Haydn with the Welsh Chamber Orchestra, Beethoven’s Mass in C under the baton of Nicholas Cleobury and Verdi’s Requiem with the BBC symphony Orchestra. Future enagements include Beethoven 9th with the London Mozart Players in the Cadogan Hall the Nelson Mass in the Houses of Parliament and Beethoven Mass in C with the Ulster Orchestra in the Waterfront Hall.

Carolyn has won many competitions including Gold medal winner at the British Federation of Festivals at Warwick University, the Margaret Dick Competition and was runner up for two years in prestigious Governors' Prize held at the RSAMD and represented the Academy in the Inter-conservatoire Bruce Millar Competition.

She has taken part in many courses including the prestigious Samling Foundation, Britten-Pears Summer School, British Youth Opera workshop, Opera Plus, London Masterclasses, Hand Made Opera in Italy and Oxenfoord International Summer School which has led to her participation in Masterclasses with Sir Thomas Allen, Philip Langridge, Mary King, Sarah Walker and Della Jones.