Catherine Stein started out as an oboist, and earned her B.A. from the University of North Carolina Greensboro, where she studied with Dr. M. Ashley Barrett. She was introduced to historical performance there in the collegium directed by Pat Petersen. She earned a Masters in Early Music Performance from the Longy School of Music, where she studied Baroque oboe with Stephen Hammer, and Renaissance reeds with Daniel Stillman. On early reeds and as a mezzo-soprano, she has performed with a number of choirs and historical performance groups, including the Parish choir at Church of the Redeemer Chestnut Hill, Church of the Advent, Early Music New York, Newport Baroque, New Trinity Baroque, Vox Consort, Bach Vespers, Boston Shawm and Sackbut Ensemble, and the Seven Hills Renaissance Wind Ensemble.