Christina Ray

Style: Opera; Classical; Musical Theatre

Bio:

Christina Ray, mezzo soprano is finally home in Kansas City with her husband Tenor, Jonathan Ray. Christina recently completed an Artist Diploma in Vocal Performance at University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Praised for her "velvety mezzo" (OperaWire), Christina Ray is equally at home on the operatic, concert, and musical theatre stages. Recent roles include Mrs. Splinters in Aaron Copland's The Tender Land and Ms. Lark in Mary Poppins with Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, Béatrice in Béatrice et Bénédict, with Landlocked Opera, Celeste #1 in Sunday in the Park with George, Ramiro in Mozart's La finta giardiniera, Hänsel from Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel, and Maman/la tasse Chinoise/la libellule in Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges. As an active choral singer, Ms. Ray is a member of two professional choral ensembles Vox Nova and Kantorei KC. Ms. Ray made her professional debut with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City as a chorister in their 2018 season. She has also sung professionally with the Overland Park Orchestra, Missouri Symphony Orchestra, and Manhattan Concert Productions. In 2016 she was a recipient of an Encouragement Award at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, in the Little Rock, AR district.

Ms. Ray is the Founding General Director of boutique opera company, Landlocked Opera. Landlocked Opera is committed to serving the Missouri community with quality performances and serving area artists with quality opportunities. Believing strongly in breaking down barriers and opera stereotypes, Landlocked Opera’s motto is "Opera for All."

Ms. Ray is on the Board for Mid-MO NATS and Vice President of the Kansas City Chapter of NATS. Many of her students have placed in national competitions, been accepted to top undergraduate and graduate vocal music programs, and performed leading roles on opera and musical theatre stages.

Ms. Ray completed an Artist Certificate in Vocal Performance with Dr. Aidan Soder at the UMKC Conservatory, her Master of Music in Vocal Performance with Dr. Lori Bade at Louisiana State University, and her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Missouri with Ann Harrell. Mrs. Ray’s research interests include training young voices, developing shame resistance in the private voice studio, and discovering critical kinesthetic awareness to inform healthy vocal technique. Mrs. Ray also holds a Bachelor of Music from University of Missouri, where she studied under Ann Harrell.

Voice Type: Mezzo-soprano

Music Styles Taught: Opera; Classical; Musical Theatre

Availability: I am available as a performer; I am currently accepting private students; I am available as a clinician or presenter; I accept students through a college or university program

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