Following a wholesome state education in Derbyshire and Cheshire, Heather Birt won a place to study music at Oriel College, Oxford, and went on to gain scholarships at Trinity College of Music for two postgraduate diplomas in viola and baroque violin.

Heather has performed in many prestigious venues, notably the Purcell Room, the Cadogan Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, the Sheldonian Theatre, The Queen's College Oxford, Church of the Pietà in Venice, the Liszt Academy in Budapest, and at jazz festivals including Holywood, Brecon, Eindhoven, Keswick, Swanage, Bude, Birmingham, and Soho.

Heather works as a freelance baroque musician with ensembles such as The Gabrieli Consort, The Classical Opera Company, The Sixteen, The English Concert , Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Charivari Agréable.

A committed chamber musician, Heather is an active member of many ensembles including Minerva, OXUS, The Boxbury Trio and The Holywell Ensemble. 

Heather plays Double Bass in Allen Beechey's Bright Stars of Jazz, and with the John Petters Swing Band.  She is regularly invited to play bass with many other bands, and solo artists including Sammy Rimmington on his UK tours.

Heather has been Head of Strings at the School of St. Helen and St. Katharine in Abingdon since 2002, where she has had enormous success expanding student participation in chamber music. She now co-ordinates a weekly rehearsal schedule of 17 ensembles.

In her spare time Heather enjoys reading novels, languages including French and Italian, the outdoors, travel and cookery.