Christa Stevens is a lyric soprano from Redlands, California and is active in both the operatic and choral communities throughout Southern California. She received her Bachelor of Art Degrees in Music and English Literature from The University of Redlands, where she was a featured soloist in the annual Feast of Lights for four consecutive years, and a Master of Music Degree in Voice Performance from California State University, Northridge. In addition, she received graduate level education and training from California State University, Fullerton and toured with both The Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and Andrea Bocelli, and participated in concerts at the Hollywood Bowl with John Williams and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In addition, she toured Australia with John Alexander and the CSUF Chamber Choir. She was an active member of the Classical Singers Association for three seasons and has participated in master classes with Carol Vaness, Rod Gilfry, and Suzanna Guzman, among others.
Christa has appeared as a soloist with many opera companies and organizations throughout Southern California, including the Riverside Opera Guild, Riverside Lyric Opera, Classics at the Merc, for which she was featured in an article in The Californian, Opera Pasadena, Golden West Opera Theatre, Opera Royale, The Celestial Opera Company, the Second Sunday Concert Series at the Pasadena Public Library, the Camerata of Los Angeles, and the Pass Chorale. Operatic roles include Mother in Hansel and Gretel, Annina in Verdi's La Traviata, Edith in an original Gilbert and Sullivan review, Yvette in La Rondine, and the roles of Countess, Marguerite, Miss Pinkerton, Sophie, and Lady Ella in staged opera scenes. Recent concert solo performances include Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes, Britten's Ceremony of Carols, Vivaldi's Gloria, and Schubert's Mass in G.
As a choral artist, Christa has recently served as a guest soprano section leader for the Riverside Master Chorale, a substitute soprano section leader for the Orange County Choral Society, and is a member of the Wagner Ensemble, under the direction of Jeannine Wagner. She is currently a soprano section leader, cantor, and soloist at the Holy Family Cathedral in Orange, having previously served as the soprano soloist and section leader at St. Luke's Episcopal Church of Monrovia. She has been a guest vocalist at several other churches, including St. Mark's Episcopal Church of Glendale, the Good Shepherd Catholic Church of Beverly Hills, St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Santa Ana, and Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church of Hungtinton Beach. Additionally, she serves as a guest vocalist at the Church of Our Savior Episcopal Church of San Gabriel in their annual "Music for a Season" concert series. She also performs as a seasonal Dickens Caroler throughout Orange and Los Angeles Counties.
Christa is a private voice, piano, and theory instructor and was recently presented with a Forte Award from California Music Studios for excellence in music instruction. She is also adjunct voice faculty at California Baptist University in Riverside, CA. She is co-founder of the exciting new opera company, Redlands Opera Theatre, based in her hometown of Redlands. Upcoming performances include soprano soloist in Mozart's Coronation Mass at the Holy Family Cathedral, a collaborative German program of operatic repertoire and lieder at the Redlands United Church of Christ, a concert performance of Zdenka in a duet from Strauss' Arabella at the South Pasadena Public Library, and a reprisal of the role of Edith in scenes from The Pirates of Penzance at the South Pasadena Public Library as well. Please visit her blogsite at: www.christastevenssoprano.blogspot.com for more information about upcoming engagements.
Christa Stevens, Soprano
Biography
Christa Stevens is a lyric soprano from Redlands, California and is active in both the operatic and choral communities throughout Southern California. She received her Bachelor of Art Degrees in Music and English Literature from The University of Redlands, where she was a featured soloist in the annual Feast of Lights for four consecutive years, and a Master of Music Degree in Voice Performance from California State University, Northridge. In addition, she received graduate level education and training from California State University, Fullerton and toured with both The Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and Andrea Bocelli, and participated in concerts at the Hollywood Bowl with John Williams and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In addition, she toured Australia with John Alexander and the CSUF Chamber Choir. She was an active member of the Classical Singers Association for three seasons and has participated in master classes with Carol Vaness, Rod Gilfry, and Suzanna Guzman, among others.
Christa has appeared as a soloist with many opera companies and organizations throughout Southern California, including the Riverside Opera Guild, Riverside Lyric Opera, Classics at the Merc, for which she was featured in an article in The Californian, Opera Pasadena, Golden West Opera Theatre, Opera Royale, The Celestial Opera Company, the Second Sunday Concert Series at the Pasadena Public Library, the Camerata of Los Angeles, and the Pass Chorale. Operatic roles include Mother in Hansel and Gretel, Annina in Verdi's La Traviata, Edith in an original Gilbert and Sullivan review, Yvette in La Rondine, and the roles of Countess, Marguerite, Miss Pinkerton, Sophie, and Lady Ella in staged opera scenes. Recent concert solo performances include Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes, Britten's Ceremony of Carols, Vivaldi's Gloria, and Schubert's Mass in G.
As a choral artist, Christa has recently served as a guest soprano section leader for the Riverside Master Chorale, a substitute soprano section leader for the Orange County Choral Society, and is a member of the Wagner Ensemble, under the direction of Jeannine Wagner. She is currently a soprano section leader, cantor, and soloist at the Holy Family Cathedral in Orange, having previously served as the soprano soloist and section leader at St. Luke's Episcopal Church of Monrovia. She has been a guest vocalist at several other churches, including St. Mark's Episcopal Church of Glendale, the Good Shepherd Catholic Church of Beverly Hills, St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Santa Ana, and Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church of Hungtinton Beach. Additionally, she serves as a guest vocalist at the Church of Our Savior Episcopal Church of San Gabriel in their annual "Music for a Season" concert series. She also performs as a seasonal Dickens Caroler throughout Orange and Los Angeles Counties.
Christa is a private voice, piano, and theory instructor and was recently presented with a Forte Award from California Music Studios for excellence in music instruction. She is also adjunct voice faculty at California Baptist University in Riverside, CA. She is co-founder of the exciting new opera company, Redlands Opera Theatre, based in her hometown of Redlands. Upcoming performances include soprano soloist in Mozart's Coronation Mass at the Holy Family Cathedral, a collaborative German program of operatic repertoire and lieder at the Redlands United Church of Christ, a concert performance of Zdenka in a duet from Strauss' Arabella at the South Pasadena Public Library, and a reprisal of the role of Edith in scenes from The Pirates of Penzance at the South Pasadena Public Library as well. Please visit her blogsite at: www.christastevenssoprano.blogspot.com for more information about upcoming engagements.