Catrina Lapage was born and grew up in Pembrokeshire, where she received piano lessons from the age of six. At fourteen she became the organist at her local church, taking lessons from Peter Boorman, the organist of St. David's Cathedral. From there, she studied for a music degree at Cardiff University and accompanied the university's Chamber Choir. An organ recital formed part of her final year and at this stage she obtained her Associate of the Royal College of Organists, studying with Richard Popplewell of the Chapel Royal. A post-graduate year studying the music of Luigi Cherubini followed, and then in 1981 Catrina took up a teaching post in Bournemouth where she enjoyed singing in the Bournemouth Sinfonietta Chamber Choir. She also played the organ for services in St Stephen's Church in the town centre.

A move to Buckinghamshire in 1985 led her two years later to Shrewsbury to take up the post of Head of Music at the High School. She soon became the accompanist for the newly-formed Cantata Choir under Ian Ward, remaining with the choir for seventeen years. She also became an A-level examiner. After a break of five years, former Cantata Choir musical director, the late David Leeke, invited her to return to her role as choir accompanist. Catrina has thoroughly enjoyed her long association with Cantata Choir.