Cathleen grew up on a farm near the little town of Nora Springs, Iowa. She began piano lessons at age five, snare drum/percussion at nine, and organ lessons at twelve. Nurtured by her home church in Plymouth, Iowa, Cathleen was given many opportunities to play the piano. In addition, she accompanied the children's choir that her mother directed and accompanied hymn singing for the adult Sunday school. When the church's beloved organist retired, Cathleen began her first position as a church organist at Plymouth United Methodist Church at age thirteen. Two years later, she would also become the organist for the Old Stone United Methodist Church in Rock Falls, Iowa. She is eternally grateful to these rural communities for loving her and allowing her to use her gifts for a higher, sacred purpose.
After graduating from high school, Cathleen continued taking organ lessons at the University of Northern Iowa with Dr. Marilou Kratzenstein, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art (Graphic Design Emphasis) and a Minor in German. Following a few years and studying abroad in Glasgow, Scotland, Cathleen returned to college to study her first love, music. In 1997, she graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance and a Graduate Certificate in Sacred Music, where she studied with Dr. Delbert Disselhorst and Dr. Delores Bruch.
For the past nineteen years, Cathleen has been the CEO of Childcare, Household Operations, and Sanitation—in other words—a mother who works in the home. During this time, she taught piano lessons and served as organist/choir accompanist in various churches throughout the Twin Cities. In addition, Cathleen has been the organist and choir accompanist for River Hills United Methodist Church in Burnsville, Minnesota, for the past twelve years.
Cathleen considers herself a caregiver of people, animals, and the environment. She loves many genres of music, from Palestrina to Prince. When not on the organ bench, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons, and three cats. Fun fact—Cathleen played the drums at her wedding reception!