Brought up in a diplomat’s family, Carolyn has since early childhood been immersed in classical music and performance across Europe, the USA, South Africa and Argentina. She began singing tuition aged 9 at the Anglican Cathedral, New York and studied clarinet, playing in her school Orchestra.  She sang in Choirs (still a member of her local church choir) and in opera/operetta in the USA and Argentina. Her professional life included postings with the Foreign Office (HM Diplomatic Service) to New Delhi, Saudi Arabia and Paris; and a spell back in the UK in merchant banking, Lloyd’s of London Brokers/Underwriters and Legal.  She sang with St Paul’s Festival Choir Knightsbridge and the Bart’s Choir.  In 1994, she joined COG chorus for Smetana’s “The Brandenburgers in Bohemia”, conducted by Vilem Tausky. Carolyn became Chairman in early 2022 and quickly consolidated a return to regular COG performances after the pandemic. 

Carolyn’s ambition for COG is to keep fresh its reputation for the less-usual, yet lovely, works; holding its place as a company attracting the best in professional artistes while giving career development to newer soloists. Alongside is the benefit of highly-trained non-fee earning Orchestra Players and Chorus, who regularly rehearse and perform alongside their daytime duties – just for the love of the genre. This makes COG sustainable, delivering top-quality opera, satisfying for the experienced opera aficionado, and at costs affordable to those new to its many joys.