Maria Christina with Federico Casagrande
Biography Maria Christina with Federico Casagrande
Maria Christina
is an Austrian-born, New York-trained and Berlin-based singer, composer and lyricist.
After receiving her bachelor's degree in jazz performance with honors with Dena DeRose at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Maria went to New York City on a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to pursue her master's degree at the Manhattan School of Music. There, she studied jazz voice and composition with Theo Bleckmann, Peter Eldridge (founder of the New York Voices), Kate McGarry, Darmon Meader, David Liebman, Phil Markowitz, Jim McNeely and John Reilly to name a few - and completed her degree in 2011.
She recorded her debut record "The Timeless In You" recently afterwards, which Mr Bleckmann co-produced, and was working as a freelance musician in the City.
In 2013, Maria moved back to Europe and is currently based in Berlin, Germany. She now works as a freelance artist, performing, composing and teaching in Berlin.
Her second album "Monring Swim" with the Italian guitarist Federico Casagrande will be out on June 1, defining a stylistic turning point towards a singer-songwriter style.
Maria was semifinalist in the Montreux Voice Competition and the Brussels Young Jazz Singers Competition 2007.
She writes for various ensembles, ranging from duets to small and large ensembles and big band. Her writing is influenced by jazz, rock, minimalist and classical music as well as by her life in Europe and New York City. Her band, Maria Christina, features her work as a singer, composer and lyricist, supported by vibraphone, guitar, bass and drums.
