About
Catherine joined the first violin section of Opera North in 2016 and became a member of the Manchester Camerata in 2019. She continues to enjoy a busy freelance career alongside her jobs, playing regularly with the Halle, Northern Chamber Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and BBC Philharmonic.
Originally from Hampshire, Catherine graduated with a PGDip Distinction in Violin from the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in July 2013, studying with Maciej Rakowski. Catherine came to Manchester to study on the joint course run between Manchester University and the RNCM, winning the Hargreaves Academic Prize in 2010 and graduating with a first class MusB (Hons) degree and GRNCM diploma from the RNCM in 2012. She also studied on the Halle Strings Leadership Scheme and completed that with an International Artist Diploma in 2016, studying with James Clark and Lyn Fletcher. Catherine’s concerto performances include the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with NEW Sinfonia in 2013, Glazunov violin concerto with Manchester University Symphony Orchestra 2011 and Bruch violin concerto with Peter Symonds orchestra in 2007 and she has participated in masterclasses with Gerard Poulet, Yossi, Zivoni, Ivry Gitlis, Leland Chen, Peter Manning, Tasmin Little, Pavel Fischer and Madeleine Mitchell.
As a keen chamber musician Catherine was a founder member of the Solem Quartet, playing second violin from 2011-2017. In that time the quartet won of the Britten 100 intercollegiate string quartet prize, RNCM Nossek prize and Royal Overseas League ensemble prize. Catherine enjoyed a busy concert schedule with the Solem Quartet, performing at venues including the Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall and on BBC Radio 3 as well as holding the positions of Junior Fellows at the RNCM and Ensemble in Residence at the University of Liverpool. In 2017 the quartet reached the semi-finals of the 7th International Joseph Haydn Competition and were also Park Lane Group Artists and winners of a Tunnel Trust award. She has since worked with the Pennine String Quartet and chamber ensembles from Opera North.
Catherine also enjoys working as a session musician and has worked with Golden Fable, The Innocent, Tony Christie, Everything Everything, Michael Buble, Charlie Cunningham and Azadeh. She can also be heard on the film My Dad's Christmas Date and tv series Mr Mayfair. She also plays with the chamber orchestra NEW Sinfonia and can often be seen performing in fancy dress with the Picture House orchestra of Carrot Productions on their UK tours! Catherine loves to work with artists of many genres and recently lead Opera North's Orpheus in the Record Shop project with Testament and plays with Immix ensemble in Liverpool.