Catriona MacKinnon

Catriona is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, where she achieved a distinction in both her undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Since moving to Cardiff she has been Principal Oboe of the Welsh National Opera and Oboe tutor at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Catriona has also appeared as guest principal with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Scottish Ballet.

Alongside her busy orchestral career, Catriona has enjoyed performing as a soloist and chamber musician with many ensembles, including the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, Scottish Concert Orchestra, Cardiff Winds and the Gould Trio.

Born in Glasgow, Catriona began learning the oboe with Stephen West at the age of ten. She was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Camerata Scotland and the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland. She was also a woodwind finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition.

During her time at the Academy she collaborated and performed with the Juilliard School in New York and spent a semester studying at the Hochschule für Music und Theater, Leipzig.