Catriona Maclean Mackinnon graduated in harp, piano and voice from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She sang successfully at Mods, the Pan Celtic Festival and other venues including the BBC. After her marriage, she lived on Skye where she continued to sing and enthusiastically revived the Broadford Gaelic Choir taking it to successes at the Mod. She became a friend of Sir Iain Noble, and she helped to teach him Gaelic, while encouraging him in his project to promote the Gaelic culture on Skye.
Still a young wife and mother, she was diagnosed with the shocking news that she was suffering from a life-threatening illness. Showing impressive strength of character, she decided to press on with her commitment to music and her struggle for perfection.