Opera Voice with Christina E.

My name is Christina and I am a professional singer and digital artist. Alongside singing, I have 7 years of teaching experience in both schools and private studio settings. My current students have placed and progressed forward in competitions such as “The Voice,” “Britain’s Got Talent,” and the “Bermuda Festival Competition (first prize).” A bit about me and my teaching philosophy: I completed my Bachelor of Arts in music at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) graduating with high honors under a full academic scholarship, and have recently completed a Masters of Musical Performance at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). At UCLA, I was the recipient of a Graduate Fellowship Award, Fritz Altman Scholarship, Shapiro Scholarship, and was one of the Mimi Feldman Scholarship Competition winners. Initially a self taught pop singer, I transitioned into classical singing during my first year of college. This transition was extremely challenging at the beginning, but after working on classical fundamentals for the first year, my pop singing drastically improved, and my tone production was more full and free. These elements and many other aspects of classical training can establish a healthy foundation. Initially, young singers hesitate to learn the classical technique but the truth is, singing in this way does not mean that the singer will necessarily sound operatic, but gain the flexibility to cross genres in a way that is safe and healthy. Many pop singers and high belters begin and continue their training with a classical technique. Alongside singing, I believe basic knowledge in piano is beneficial in improving musicality and an understanding of phrasing. Piano greatly improves sight reading and ones ability to learn music quickly and efficiently. I would love to help and guide those interested in music. I want to share the profound joy it brings and pass down what I have learned over the years. I have completed courses in music pedagogy and education alongside my degrees, and believe in shaping my lessons around each individual's learning style so that each student may continue to grow while having fun. Helping each student develop their own unique musical identity is one of the main goals with these lessons as well as teaching a student to eventually become their own teacher. See Singing Bio Below: Mexican-American mezzo-soprano Christina E. has been noted for her “rich mezzo”, and “captivating performances” (The Desert Sun). This season, Ms. E will make her New York debut as a Young Artist with the Dell’arte Opera Ensemble performing the role of Giovanna Seymour in Donizetti’s Anna Bolena. Recent roles include Hermia in Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Nights Dream with the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, the title role in a world premiere workshop reading of Juana by Carla Lucero and Mrs. Krawcyck in Janice Hamer’s Lost Childhood with Opera UCLA, and Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro as well as The Monitress in Suor Angelica with Repertory Opera Company. In 2020, Ms. Esser was selected as one of nine finalists (both instrumental and vocal) to compete in the prestigious Hennings-Fischer Burbank Philharmonic Young Artist Competition. She has also been a featured young artist with the Palm Springs Opera Guild, and in May, will return as a guest teaching artist in their education outreach tour, “Opera in the Schools”. A versatile artist, Ms. E. also excels in standard concert works. She has been a featured soloist with the Santa Ynez Master Chorale and Orchestra performing Schubert’s Mass in G, as well as the featured soloist with the Idyllwild Master Chorale and Orchestra concert series, singing selections from Handel’s Messiah. In 2018, Ms E. attended the International Vocal Academy in Payerbach, Austria where she studied with world-renowned baritone Vladimir Chernov and bel canto expert Olga Toporkova. The following summer, she was a participant in the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival where she worked with soprano Jennifer McGregor and conductor Paul Floyd.