Cathy received her Bachelor of Music degree at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, with a major in voice and minor in piano. She studied organ with Peter Nygaard of Moorhead after graduating. While at Concordia, she sang with the Concordia Choir under the direction of Paul J. Christiansen. She teaches piano and voice lessons out of her studio at her home in Nisswa, and prior to that in Fargo, North Dakota. She also teaches voice at Brainerd High School and is the accompanist for the Brainerd High School choirs.

Cathy is a member of the National Federation of Music Teachers and has done some judging for their annual piano festivals. She is organist at Lutheran Church of the Cross and an active member and soloist in the choir. She has also directed children's choirs and musicals in Nisswa and at Olivet Lutheran Church in Fargo. She continues to study voice, piano and organ in her free time.

Cathy lives in Nisswa on the northeast side of Gull Lake with her husband, John, and children, Ana, Elizabeth and Stewart Sawdey, and their three mini-dachshunds.

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