Backa Katarina (née Johansson) was born in 1967 in Stockholm. She received her main education at the Royal Academy of Music with professor Alf Nilsson as teacher.
She started as a 17-year-old in the oboe part. Over the years, she has increasingly focused on English horn. In several of her favorite works there are prominent solo parts for this instrument, fun challenges e.g. in the Ring, Tristan, Othello and others.
In addition to her service, she is often involved in church concerts and chamber music events.
She plays an English horn of the brand T.W. Howarth and a Ludwig Frank oboe.