Christina Rivera is a rising, classically-trained young artist of music and the stage. Born in Philadelphia, PA and raised at the Jersey shore, her Puerto Rican-upbringing instilled strong interests in the arts, culture, but most of all - music. Over the years she honed her skills and received a Master of Music degree in Opera Performance thanks to generous financial awards from Arizona State University and the School of Music. While there, Christina performed numerous roles in public, including "Gretel" in Humperdink’s HANSEL AND GRETEL, "Najade" in Strauss’s ARIADNE AUF NAXOS, "Frasquita" in Bizet’s CARMEN, and "Blöndchen" in Mozart’s DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL.  Invited twice to participate in the Arizona Opera & Arizona State University Study-Cover program, she prepared and covered the roles of "Frasquita" and "Blöndchen" while in production at Arizona Opera for academic credit. This led to invitations to sing for Arizona Opera's community and promotional events as well as the professional cover for "Amore" in Gluck's ORFEO ED EURIDICE during the 2011-2012 season.

 

Christina started 2019 off as "Susanna" in First Coast Opera's mainstage production of Mozart's LE NOZZE DI FIGARO.  Later, she was invited to sing Soprano Soloist in concert of J.S. Bach's Cantata 140 WACHET AUF, RUFT UNS DIE STIMME at St. James Cathedral, downtown Orlando's premier Catholic church. In 2018, Christina was a featured Soprano Soloist in St. James' Lessons and Carols concert, Soprano Soloist in G. F. Händel's MESSIAH at St. Michael's church of Long Branch, NJ, and was a featured Operatic Soloist in First Coast Opera's "Opera Olé" concert as part of St. Augustine's Romanza Festivale of the Arts.  In 2017, Christina performed the role of "Mr. Swine" to popular acclaim in the Orlando debut of THE TRIAL OF B.B. WOLF, a new opera by composer Curtis Tucker and librettist Nelson Sheeley. Paired with Gilbert & Sullivan's TRIAL BY JURY, Christina also performed as "Angelina" in a double-bill production of the courtroom comedies with Central Florida Vocal Arts.  As a Professional  Fellow with the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, Christina performed the role of "Susanna" with Baroque-period orchestra in Mozart's LE NOZZE DI FIGARO the year prior. 

 

Other performance highlights include "Dido" in Purcell's DIDO AND AENEAS with Opera Lancaster, "Rosina" in Rossini's THE BARBER OF SEVILLE with Portland Opera's 'Opera to Go' outreach program, featured Soloist in "Noche de España," a Gala concert of zarzuela at the historic Teatro Popular Melico Salazar of San Jose, Costa Rica, "Amy" in Mark Adamo’s opera LITTLE WOMEN with Sugar Creek Symphony & Song Festival, and the title role in Händel’s ALCINA with Halifax Summer Opera Workshop in Nova Scotia, Canada.

 

Before pursuing graduate studies, Christina performed a variety of roles throughout the New York City-metropolitan area, including "Marion" in THE MUSIC MAN, "Laurey" in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s OKLAHOMA!, "Suor Genovieffa" in Puccini’s SUOR ANGELICA, "Anne Egerman" in Sondheim’s A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, "Mabel" in Gilbert & Sullivan’s THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, and "Laetitia" in Menotti’s THE OLD MAID AND THE THIEF.  In competitions, she took 2nd Place in the Little Italy Soprano Competition of New York City and was named Winner of the Florence Boughton Competition of Young Artists of New Jersey.

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With a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from The College of New Jersey, Christina remains passionate about teaching music along with other subjects to all levels of students throughout the country and internationally.