Born in Terrassa and trained at the Conservatori Municipal de Música in Barcelona, Mireia Barrera studied at the International Centre for Choral Music in Namur (Belgium) with choir and orchestra conductor Pierre Cao. She has participated in courses given by M. Cabero, E. Ribó and L. Heltay and studied singing with M. Dolors Aldea.

She was conductor of the Cor Madrigal de Barcelona from 1993 to 2019, and principal conductor of the Coro Nacional de España from 2005 to 2010. She is currently working with the Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid as first guest conductor and, since the 2012-13 season, she has conducted the professional vocal group Barcelona Ars Nova. She has also been principal conductor of the Capella de Música de Santa Maria del Mar and, until December 2005, she conducted the Orquesta Ciudad de Granada choir, of which she was a founder. She has worked with the Choir of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Orquestra Nacional de Cambra d’Andorra, the Orquestra Barroca Catalana, the Vespres d’Arnadí orchestra and the RTVE choir, among others. From 1998 to 2005 she taught the children’s choirs that took part in the seasons of symphonic music performed by the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra.

She has taught choral conducting at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (2002-2005), and has taught courses for the Federació Catalana d’Entitats Corals, and in various cities in Spain.

In 2014 she was awarded the National Culture Prize for her career in choral singing and her interest in the dissemination of contemporary music. Her noteworthy interest in the dialogue between music and other artistic disciplines has led her to work with artists such as Perejaume and the IT Dansa and Santamaría dance companies.