Catherine Hiltz is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and educator currently residing on unceded and occupied territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ nations in so-called Vancouver, BC.


As a session musician, Catherine has worked with artists Tegan and Sara, Jill Barber, Rae Spoon, Mathew V, The Sojourners, Khari McClelland, Vox Rea, and various 604 Records artists, as well as being a member of event band Queer As Funk. Catherine has worked with producers Sylvia Massey (Johnny Cash, Tool, Red Hot Chili Peppers), Alex Hope (Tegan and Sara, Alanis Morisette), Howard Redekopp (Tegan and Sara, Mother Mother), John Collins and David Carswell (Stars, Destroyer, The New Pornographers). Catherine has toured markets in North America, Europe, and South Asia, performing at some of the world's premiere showcase festivals including Primavera Sound (ESP), SXSW (US), Reeperbahn Festival (DE), The Great Escape (UK), Transmusicales (FR), NH7 Weekender (IND). Catherine has opened for Steve Vai, Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, The Electric Six, Ria Mae, Blue Rodeo, Stars, The Ataris, and many more.

 

Holding diplomas in Jazz Guitar Performance, Composition, RCM Grade 10 cello, and currently completing her Bachelor of Applied Music on bass, Catherine’s performing and writing experience ranges from jazz groups to orchestras, choirs to indie bands. She has twenty years of experience as a contemporary guitar, bass, and theory teacher.


As a producer and engineer, Catherine brings her decades of experience as a player and teacher into every session - not afraid to take risks, get weird, and try ideas - all while creating a supportive and celebratory environment by putting the artist’s ease, comfort, and creativity first. Working in both Logic and Pro Tools, her multi-instrumental, multi-genre, and multi-disciplinary history allows her to communicate effectively with musicians and engineers alike. She has mentored with Howard Redekopp, Brian and Caleb Chan (Angry Birds, My Little Pony), Michael Creber (k.d. lang, Raffi), and Jane Aurora (Liz Stringer); studying production, engineering, mixing, and film scoring. Catherine's production work has charted in the Earshot Top 10 (Britt AM - Gold), and she has contributed music to radio shows, film, and documentary work, including providing the original score for OUTtv's in particular, barbara findlay [sic] (Becca Plucer, 2015), and has contributed music to CJSR 88.5 FM's queer arts and culture show Gaywire. As a transcriber and engraver, Catherine created the Rae Spoon Songbook, a 110-song book spanning the entirety of Rae Spoon’s musical career.