Catriona McElhinney Grimes is an Irish classical pianist and violinist, versatile as a chamber musician and accompanist. She is most well known as a song pianist and has performed recitals with singers such as Catrina Scullion Finn, North Dublin Opera, and Colette Delahunt. In addition to her accomplished career as a solo pianist, she is a regular duo performer and works with many of Ireland's artists.

Her early training began with her mother and continued as a scholarship student at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin. Catriona studied at Trinity College London, where she was the recipient of many awards. She has an extensive solo repertoire and has broadcast for both RTE and BBC.

During her professional career, Catriona has collaborated with numerous chamber music duos, trios and quartets. She has worked with many of Ireland’s leading classical musicians in concerts, competitions and live radio and television broadcasts. She also works extensively as an examiner, gives masterclasses and workshops and has been an official accompanist at many festivals in Ireland and overseas.

She has given many performances including solo recitals nationwide in Ireland, UK, France, Italy and the United States.

She began her teaching career assisting her mother at their music studio in North West Donegal. During her time at Trinity College of Music, she worked at St. Vincent's prep school teaching piano and coaching in choral duties. She taught piano at Alexandra College, Sandford Park School, D.I.T. Conservatory of Music and has experience teaching third level students at Dundalk Institute of Technology.

Catriona works as an examiner at Griffith College, a position she has held for ten years. She has given master classes at numerous workshops on exam syllabi and has been an official accompanist at competitions, festivals and auditions.

At her music room in Skerries, Catriona takes a holistic approach to her piano and violin lessons, incorporating the psychology of teaching across the various ages and stages. She coaches singing students and teaches piano and violin to young children and adults. The two qualities of sensitivity and flexibility are foremost to her as an accompanist and her overall aim is to inspire a love of music to her students.

Catriona is currently concentrating her efforts on recordings of her own arrangements of Irish airs and melodies, a project close to her heart. Last year she launched her first album 'Sona', followed up by 'Suaimhneas' and 'Aingeal' which are available on all major streaming platforms.