Mezzo-Soprano Catherine O’Carroll studied with Dr. Veronica Dunne in Dublin and subsequently completed postgraduate studies in opera at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, studying under Dr. Suzanne Murphy and Angela Livingstone. Catherine then continued her studies privately in London with Prof. Susan McCulloch and with Dearbhla Collins (RIAM). She is currently studying with Owen Gilhooly-Miles.
Catherine recently performed the role of McGrath in Fiona Linnane's The Hag of Loughrask with the Opera Workshop in Limerick. She will be performing in the Chorus of the Irish National Opera in La Boheme and La Traviata for their 2023-2024 season.
In Ireland, Catherine has been the winner of numerous competitions in Dublin and nationally for Opera, Oratorio, Lieder, English Art Song, and Operetta. She has also won many bursaries and scholarships for her studies including, The Sir Geraint Evans Scholarship, The Laura Ashley Foundation Scholarship and bursaries from the Arts Council of Ireland and The John McCormack Society Dublin.
As a student Catherine had the opportunity to perform a large variety of operatic roles. These included the following: Ursula - Beatrice et Benedict (Berlioz), Meg Page - The Merry Wives of Windsor (Nicolai), Baba the Turk - The Rake's Progress (Stravinsky), Mrs Grose - The Turn of the Screw (Britten), Bianca - The Rape of Lucretia (Britten), Idamante - Idomeneo (Mozart), Hermia - A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Britten), Rooster - Cunning Little Vixen (Janacek), Mistress of Novices - Suor Angelica (Puccini), Mama - L'enfant et les Sortileges (Ravel), Older Woman - Flight (Dove), Public Opinion - Orpheus in the Underworld (Offenbach), Marcellina - Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart), Madam Quickly - Falstaff (Verdi), Tisbe - La Cenerentola (Rossini).
Equally at home on the Recital and Concert Platform as on the Operatic Stage, Catherine has performed extensively as a soloist throughout Ireland, Wales, England, Scotland and Italy in such venues as St. David’s Hall Cardiff, Dublin Castle, the Mansion House Dublin, University Concert Hall Limerick, Millennium Theatre Limerick, Killruddery House Wicklow, Ross Castle Killarney, Adare Manor, and at the Sligo International Choral Festival.
She has undertaken masterclasses with Barbara Bonney, Isobel Buchanan, Penelope Mackay, Mark Shanahan, Paula Anglin, Patricia McMahon, Malcolm Martineau, Adrian Thompson, Laura Sarti and Ugo Benelli and at the Abingdon Summer School for Solo Singers.
Before beginning her studies in opera Catherine did her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and a post grad in Accountancy and a post grad in Education.
