Cathy Oakes

Cathy began piano lessons at the age of six, but quickly got bored.  Her parents sold the piano when her mother found her lying on the piano stool trying to play with her toes!  In spite of the early set back, she found her love for music through marching band and high school choir and began to seriously study piano.  

She enrolled in the music program of West Virginia Wesleyan College, a small private college in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia.  There she studied piano, voice, music theory and history and choral conducting.  She holds a bachelors degree in music with an applied major in piano.  

After two years of trying to decide whether to major in piano or voice, she finally chose piano.  Her professor said that she didn’t really choose, she simply “decided to sing on the piano.”

Cathy spent over 20 years in music ministry and has taught piano and voice for nearly 30 years.  She currently serves as the pastor of three churches in west Tennessee.

Until October 2011, Cathy had only composed one short vocal piece.  After attending concerts at the home of Philip Wesley and listening to artists such as Philip, Joseph Akins, Joe Bongiorno and others, Cathy was inspired to begin composing.  

She studied for several months with Joseph Akins, who was an invaluable influence in her efforts. Her debut CD, “Like a Song,” was released in June 2012 and was followed in October by "Let There Be Joy," a Christmas album. 

Cathy has found her music voice and continues to compose and is inspired by nature and many other solo piano artists. In August 2012, she was added to Whisperings Solo Piano Radio's roster of artists.

- See more at: http://cathyoakessolopiano.com/bio/#sthash.Bu24EXWl.dpuf