03/09/2025 - 27 years of life, 20 years of performing.

A reflection of my time as a musician, performer and teacher.

If you had told me at age 7 that I would have accomplished all I have done in my 27 years of life, I think it would have blown my tiny mind. At age 7 I had left Perform drama school and started Stage Coach acting school, I was in the choir at my primary school, and I was just starting my love affair with piano. The years that came after that were full of incredible opportunities that would build my career to where it is today and lead me to all sorts of people, who shaped my life & voice into what it is today.

Katja aged 13 at High School Pride show 2011

When my students ask me how long I've been part of the music industry for, I often forget that I've not only been part of the industry for as long as I have but have worn many hats in it, too. I was lucky enough to be raised by people from all over the creative sector, and not just my parents as dancers - but my baby sitters were mostly dancers and artists, my maternal grand parents: grandfather, George Roubicek, the actor most know from his role in Star Wars as Commander Praji & my grandmother, Dagmar Eberts a multi media artist and costume creator, and so many of the people surrounding me in childhood were all incredible creative talents.

I often joke with my students that when I told my parents I wanted to be a singer, they told my grandfather who said the only compromise would be musical theatre school. And although it makes sense, it is only just a joke. My parents supported me in my creative endeavours and still do to this day. I adored my time at both Perform (a weekly drama class for children aged 4-12) and Stage Coach, and spent many hours practicing dances, songs and scripts from a very young age. I was lucky enough to take part in many young actors performances of musicals such as Oliver, Wicked & Grease where I met my now partner, 13 years ago.

When I think back to all the lessons I had at those drama schools and all the parts I played, I remember that although I suffered from horrific stage fright, and still do on some levels to this day, I never felt scared to be on stage or learn something new, or even mess it up. I have so many wonderful students now who ask me about my own experiences with fear of performing, but the truth is, I've been doing this for so long I don't think I ever had time for that fear to develop in the way it has for them, but that's ok.

Most of my singing career started in primary school, around the age of 7. I joined Stage Coach, of course, but I also started singing in choir. My primary school choir had a number of teachers but when Jo Kilpatrick started leading the choir is when things kicked into gear. She took us all over Hackney, from performing alongside the cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat, to singing at Ocean with Voces8, to the Royal Albert Hall for a Barnardo's charity event.

I remember being recruited by my primary school choir teacher for private tuition when I was about 7 or 8. She told my parents that she wanted to work with me to develop my voice and I started taking regular lessons with her from then. She would host quarterly showcases for her students in her home in Mountview Crescent in London, and they were always called Mountview "something" and it had to begin with M. I went on to have lessons with this teacher for a few years until our paths diverged, then I met the incredible Dr. Elly Barnes MBE.

I met Elly as my year 7 music teacher in secondary school. When I met her, she was a vintage dress wearing, blonde bob cut having, loud, eccentric and just awarded Number One in The Independent on Sunday’s Rainbow List 2011 for her commitment to LGBT+ in education, lesbian from Leicester! I couldn't have asked for a better role model in that hell hole that was my secondary school!

She took me under her wing, showed me what being a true teacher was about. She listened to me, gave me space to breathe, sing and even helped me to realise and understand my own queer identity.

She saw potential in me that other teachers didn't, she knew that I had a drive and passion that only music could unlock and that I wanted to do this more than anything.

She had been running the school choir for a while and encouraged me to join. The first day I walked into that classroom, chairs in a circle - full of slightly older students who most of which were some form of queer or quirky, I felt less alone at that school and have kept in touch with some of my choir mates for years since. Elly took no time at all to promoting me to head chorister and was eager to let me have my moments where my voice could shine.

Secondary school choir with Dr. Elly Barnes MBE 2nd from the left & Katja 2nd from the right -  top row.

Through this choir, I was able to perform at many great events such as Educate & Celebrate's many shows, one of which was at the Emirates stadium (pictured below). We were also welcomed at many queer events, including performing with the London Gay Men's Chorus at Cadogan Hall.

Katja & Paul for - Arsenal For Everyone at the Emirates Stadium in 2013

Reflecting on my school year era performances brings back powerful memories, both joyful and painful. And I was lucky enough to have made many connections at an incredible London venue where, when my time at school came to an abrupt end, they welcomed me in as the safe space that it was.

The Camden Roundhouse is a beacon of excellence when discussing London music venues, from its staff to its practice studios and facilities.

I was lucky enough to attend as many courses there as I could, starting in their Junior Jam sessions at 12 years old.

I made many connections there, performed in many band projects and learnt many valuable lessons within the circular, brick covered walls.

Matt, Nicole, Duncan and many other kind, creative souls working to support young people, made me feel very welcomed and supported and showed me what it meant to be a good music teacher, once again.

The people who shaped me as a musician have also helped to shape the teacher I am today, as without them, I would have only experienced teaching that was cold and cookie cutter, and would have made me an utterly terrible teacher to be around!

Katja in her first metal band - Exorcism with Geordie Greep on drums

I later went on to do my work experience when I was pulled out of secondary school and learnt many things about how music venues work. Understanding artist liaison, estates and facilities, bookings, events management and more. It was a welcomed first look into the music industry and one I hold very close to my heart.

After this I went on to be the junior research assistant for Rough Trade Records, sorting their discography backlog as an intern for the label. It was some much needed insider information that I was lacking as someone who was breaking out on her own for the first time. I think, before my university career, I was very lucky to be given the number of performing opportunities I was, and this is without mentioning my stint in the youth dance company - Cando2! I think that I was given the gift of just being able to do what I set my mind to, and I'm still very much like that in my later half of my 20's. My health, as I'm sure most of you are aware, has been declining recently and I've not been able to get out on stage recently - but I've done enough performing though out my youth to make up for that and then some! If this break with my health has shown me anything, it's that I've accomplished so much in my time as a performer and that I have so much more to achieve, be that as a teacher, performer, song writer, artist, costumer, dancer or actor - my journey sure as hell is not over yet.