Catherine Backhouse grew up in Edinburgh and received her early vocal training as a chorister at St Mary's Cathedral. In July 2003 she graduated with a degree in music from Durham University. Her concert work has included Schumann Frauenliebe und Leben and Mozart Exsultate Jubilate in St Giles' Cathedral; Poulenc Fiançailles Pour Rire in Braid Sanctuary, Morningside; Pergolesi Stabat Mater with Edinburgh Symphony Baroque and Handel Dixit Dominus with The Southbank Sinfonia. She has recently sung the role of Michal in Handel's Saul and performs with the period instrument ensembles Symphonie des Plaisirs and the Squair Mile Viol Consort. She has performed with Edinburgh Camerata, Edinburgh Studio Opera taking the part of Hata in Smetna's The Bartered Bride and The Rodolfus Choir with whom she toured the USA in Easter 2003 and 2005. She is a full time member of the exciting new a cappella octet Voces8 with whom she won two first prizes at the 2006 Tolosa Choral Grand Prix and will be touring to eight European countries this year. She is also a member of Polyphony, Dunedin Consort, The Choir of St. Peter's Church Eaton Square, Cappella Nova, the Pilgrim Consort (formed to broadcast services along the Pilgrim route to Santiago on BBC Radio 4), The Exon Singers and Voces Cantabiles.