Christina Pier

Christina Pier is consistently met with great critical acclaim both on stage and in the teaching studio. Opera News has hailed her for her “big, gleaming soprano and impressive coloratura.”  She has performed leading roles with the Santa Fe Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Minnesota Opera, Nashville Opera, Virginia Opera, Princeton Festival, Eugene Opera, Sarasota Opera, and understudied two roles with Lyric Opera Chicago. A consummate Mozartarian, Ms. Pier has been seen as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte. She has also sung Marguerite in Gounod’s Faust, Senta in Der fliegende Holländer, the title role in Ariadne auf Naxos, as well as Micaëla in Carmen, which she will perform again this season with Opera Carolina.

In demand as a concert artist, Ms. Pier has performed with the Alabama Symphony, Bach Bay Chorale, Calgary Philharmonic, Charlotte Symphony, Eugene Symphony, Greensboro Symphony, Hartford Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Costa Rica, Orquesta Sinfónica de México, the Rochester Philharmonic, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the Winston-Salem Symphony.  Other performances include a recital for the George London Foundation, performances with the World Youth Orchestra in Italy and at the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations in New York, a tour of performances and master classes throughout China associated with the Charles A. Lynam Competition, and a segment on A&E’s Breakfast With the Arts.  In 2009 she recorded Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem with David Hill and the BBC Singers, which is available on the Naxos label.  

Ms. Pier is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards including a 2003 Grand Finals Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, George London Award, Sullivan Award, two Charles A. Lynam awards, and two Palm Beach Opera Competition Awards. Originally from Flagstaff, AZ, Ms. Pier received a BM and MM in voice at Indiana University where she studied with Virginia Zeani.

While Ms. Pier maintains an active performance schedule, her true passion is sharing her knowledge, expertise, and enthusiasm with young musicians. Her former students are enjoying successful careers as music educators, church musicians, and music therapists as well as performing at major opera houses, concert halls, on Broadway and Broadway tours, and performing at Disney Parks and Cruises. In addition to her position at UNC Charlotte, she also teaches at Queens University.