Catherine Olver

Biography

Catherine studied music at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (2014-2017) where, as organ scholar, she was responsible for conducting and accompanying the choir. Prior to this, she was awarded organ scholarships at both St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh and Rochester Cathedral and has since become an Associate of the Royal College of Organists.

Catherine is currently Professor and Director of Academic Studies for the Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth and Assistant Director of Music at St Columba’s Church, Knightsbridge, where she accompanies and directs a professional sextet for weekly services.

As a conductor, Catherine has studied under Paul Brough, Graham Walker and Robin Walker and has enjoyed working with choral societies, chapel choirs and chamber choirs in her previous roles as Acting Assistant Director of Chapel Music at Winchester College (2017-2018) and Head of Organ, School Organist and Teacher of Academic Music at St Catherine’s School, Bramley (2018-2023).

As an organist and continuo player, Catherine has studied with Donald Davison, Gordon Stewart, Roger Sayer and Andrew Arthur. Whilst at Cambridge, she enjoyed playing continuo alongside Cambridge Baroque Camerata in performances of Bach’s St John Passion and Handel’s Messiah. She has broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio 4 both as a singer and accompanist and is in frequent demand as a freelance organist and recitalist. Recent venues include Temple Church, Portsmouth Cathedral and Queen’s College, Oxford.

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