Katie Schaan

An old man who heard Katie Schaan singing away as a toddler in her mother’s arms in a grocery store gave her $10 towards her music career. She’s been making music ever since. When a tiny cello was put into Katie's three-year-old arms, she never questioned it. In fact, it felt so natural she just assumed all kids her age were attending multiple music lessons a week. Her operatic voice training began shortly thereafter and before she’d even graduated from high school, Katie had performed extensively in her hometown of Victoria, BC, even stepping into the role of vocal soloist with the Victoria Symphony conducted by Timothy Vernon. But in every moment when she wasn’t immersed in her classical training, Katie was unabashedly listening to pop music and soaking up its sensibilities.

It wasn't until she was studying opera at McGill University, though, that she started to write her own songs. She broke free from classical conventions in any way she could, taking up everything from urban gospel to jazz, and writing her own tunes at the guitar and the piano. While maybe unassuming in stature, she sings with a voice that's bigger than what you might expect; big enough to fill concert halls, warm bedrooms, and the corners of your heart all the same. Whether she's playing alone or with her band behind her, she commands the stage and takes you on a journey with every note she wraps her voice around.

In 2010 Katie recorded and released her debut album, “Close To Me” which earned her five nominations at the Vancouver Island Music Awards. When she’s not on tour or playing shows of her own, you’ll often find her backing other emerging BC artists (including Steph Macpherson, Vince Vaccaro and Aidan Knight) with her voice and cello, both on the stage or in the studio. She is currently recording a new EP, produced by Aidan Knight.