Australia-born Katharine Tier (mezzo) graduated with a Bachelor of Music from the Sydney Conservatorium in 2003, studying voice with Dr. Rowena Cowley. She subsequently enrolled in the Diploma of Opera course, during which she performed the role of Amaranta in Haydn's Fedelta Premiata.

She participated in the 2006 Merola Program at San Francisco Opera and has recently joined San Francisco Opera's Adler Young Artist Program. Her awards include the prestigious Marianne Mathy Scholarship at the 2002 Australian Singing Competition, the 2004 Barilla Opera Award for study at the Rome Opera Company, and the 2006 Vocal Workshop Award from the Neue Stimmen (New Voices) international singing competition in Germany. Other awards include the Encouragement Award in the McDonald's Operatic Aria Competition, the Operatic Voice Award in the McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge, the Mezzo Award in the 2005 Sydney Opera Awards, and the Joan Sutherland Society of Sydney Scholarship.