Caroline O'Dwyer

Style: Opera; Classical; Musical Theatre

Title: Artist Teacher in Voice, University of Rhode Island

Bio:

Dr. Caroline O’Dwyer is a mezzo-soprano from Connecticut with a passion for the operatic, concert, and recital stages. She has won several awards for her sensitive interpretation of art song, and in 2018, she was a national semi-finalist for the prestigious NATS Artist Award. As an active concert performer, Caroline has made numerous appearances as a guest soloist with orchestras and choruses across the state and region, including: the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and Greater Middletown Chorale, the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Waterbury Chorale and Festival Orchestra, the Eastman Philharmonia, the Cordancia Chamber Orchestra, the Willimantic Orchestra, the Nutmeg Symphony Orchestra, the Warwick Symphony Orchestra, the University of Rhode Island Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and the Skidmore Orchestra and Chorus. She has also performed at the Operapalooza Festival in New Haven, and appeared on stage with the Hartford Opera Theater as a part of their "New in November" series of contemporary opera, and in thier mainstage production of A Little Night Music.

In May of 2021, Caroline earned a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree (D.M.A.) in Vocal Performance from the University of Connecticut, where she studied with celebrated mezzo-soprano Meredith Ziegler. In March 2019, Caroline performed the role of Miriam "Ma" Ferguson in the world premiere of the Sackler Award-winning opera, Bessie and Ma, by Douglas Buchanan. Other roles with the UCONN Opera Theater include: Prince Charmant (Cendrillon), Catherine (Le Mariage aux lanternes), the Abbess (Suor Angelica), Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro), Cousin Hebe (H.M.S. Pinafore), Hansel (Hansel and Gretel), and Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus). In 2018, Caroline was was one of four singers selected to perform in a master class for multi-Grammy Award winner, Joyce DiDonato, at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts.

Caroline made her professional European debut in 2013 with pianist Sonja Schönamsgruber. As a duo, they performed art song recitals in the Bavarian towns of Leutershausen and Dinkelsbühl, Germany. Their program garnered enthusiastic reviews from local critics: Volker Schmidt of the Fränkische Landeszeitung wrote, “Caroline O’Dwyer sang with high virtuosity and drama in an expressive, lyric mezzo-soprano voice...Highly sensitive, she sang from her heart, from her soul, with much poignancy and a warm color.” The following year, she was invited back to Germany for a second recital performance with Sonja and her husband, baritone Ronny Rickfelder.

Caroline is as dedicated to performance as she is to pedagogy. Since 2018, she has been a member of the voice faculty at the University of Rhode Island, where she is an Artist/Teacher in the Department of Music. In 2024, Caroline joined the adjunct faculty of the Drama Department at the University of Connecticut where she teaches a course called "The Singing Actor." Caroline also teaches voice for the Joy! Program (sponsored by the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts at UCONN) in addition to maintaining a private voice studio in Connecticut.

Caroline earned her Master's Degree from the Eastman School of Music, and her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Connecticut. She resides in Coventry, CT with her husband Steve and their cat Harry. While not performing or teaching voice, you can find Caroline racing and riding bikes around New England, teaching yoga, baking bread, and traveling.

Voice Type: Mezzo-soprano

Music Styles Taught: Opera; Classical; Musical Theatre

Availability: I am available as a performer; I am currently accepting private students; I am available as a clinician or presenter; I accept students through a college or university program

Contact Information