Maria Christina

Silver GrayJOIN the NEWSLETTERMaria Christina{music and poetry}singer and composer

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Recipient of the Starter Scholarship 2011/12 by the Austrian Ministry for Art and Culture

Exceptional Fulbright grantee of the year 2011

Maria will be visiting Austria from Dec.21-Jan.5th, available for teaching and performances!

First album will be recorded in spring 2012 - click here to donate and be part of the project!

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MySpace Facebook Youtube Maria is excited to be recording her debut album in April 2012! We are still looking for funding, with your donation you can be part of the the project!Click here for more info about the project and get involved!
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Maria "My music is evidence of my soul's will to expand."I love this quote by Charles Mingus. As long as I can remember I have searched for means to broaden my horizons and express myself intellectually and emotionally. I was first introduced to jazz at the age of 14 and fell in love with it immediately: it had individuality, flexibility, rhythm, improvisation, spirit, intellect and poetry - in short, an extravagant expression of life. - Maria Christina
Rounded Edge

Maria Christina is an Austrian-born, New York-based singer, composer and lyricist.She attracted attention early on as a semifinalist in the Montreux Voice Competition and the Brussels Young Jazz Singers Competition 2007 and soon became an active member of the Austrian music scene. Having studied with Dena DeRose, Fritz Pauer, Renato Chicco and Ed Partyka, she received her bachelor's degree in jazz performance with honors at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Graz. Maria was granted a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship in 2009 and moved to New York City to pursue her master's degree at the Manhattan School of Music. There, she studied jazz voice and composition with some of the finest musicians in the world - Theo Bleckmann, Peter Eldridge, Darmon Meader, David Liebman, Phil Markowitz, Jim McNeely and John Reilly, to name a few - and completed her degree in 2011. Maria now works as a freelance artist, performing, composing and teaching in the City. She is also personal assistant to her mentor Theo Bleckmann and is preparing to record her debut album in April 2012. She has also attended workshops and/or studied privately with Kate McGarry, Dominique Eade, Bob Brookmeyer, Maria Schneider, Sheila Jordan, Jeanie LoVetri, Jay Clayton, Mark Murphy, Kurt Elling, Jerry Bergonzi and Ingrid Jensen. She writes for various ensembles, ranging from duets to small and large ensembles and big band. Her writing is influenced by jazz, rock, minimalist and classical music as well as by her life in Europe and New York City. Her band, Maria Christina, features her work as a singer, composer and lyricist, supported by vibraphone, guitar, bass and drums. Grants and Scholarships: 2011:- Grant (Start Stipend) from the Austrian Ministry for Art and Culture- Grant from the state of Upper Austria- Exceptional Fulbright Grantee 2011 2010:- Grant from the Austrian performance rights organization (SKE) 2009:- Fulbright Scholarship to study in New York- Grant from the SKE- Tour sponsorship for Maria Christina, Austrian Ministry for Art und Culture- Scholarship from the state of Upper Austria 2005/06:- Scholarships from the University for Music and Performing Arts Graz

composing

singing

performing

arranging

lyric writing

teaching

Music

Having A Coke With You
The Typewriter Suite
May My Heart Always...
Remember
Until We Meet Again
Static Still
Endless Sea
Body and Soul

SONG INFOHaving A Coke With Youmusic by MC / lyrics adapted from Frank O'Hara's 'Having A Coke With You'The Typewriter Suitemusic & lyrics by MC (lyrics to part II adapted from Mary Oliver's 'Is My Soul Asleep?')May My Heart Always Be Openmusic by MC / poem by E.E. CummingsRemembermusic & lyrics by MCEndless Seamusic & lyrics by MCUntil We Meet Againmusic & lyrics by MCStatic Stillmusic & lyrics by Theo Bleckmann / arranged by MCBody and Soulmusic by Johnny Green / solo by John Coltrane / lyrics by MCRecorded live at Meyr's Recording Studio, Manhattan School of Music on May 11th 2011Personell: MC - voice/compMatt Davis - guitarClaudio Marquez - vibraphoneJarrett Cherner - pianoLeon Boykins - bassJon Wert - drums'May My Heart Always Be Open': Peter Eldridge - piano'Endless Sea': recorded at Chris Cuzmes home studio, BK, Jeff Koch - bass, Dustin Kaufman - drums

VIDEO [use controls to watch all videos]

Maria Christina - Having A Coke With You
Maria Christina - The Typewriter (Suite in III Parts)
Maria Christina - Remember
Maria Christina - Coltrane's Body and Soul

Dates

DATES

April 3-5 2012 in the studio with 'Maria Christina extended' to record my first album! - to support us please click here - December 21st 2011 - January 5th 2012AUSTRIA - Maria will be available for teaching and performances in Austria -please call or email for details and schedulingNovember 11th 2011Duo with Jarrett Cherner5C Cultur Cafe, 7-9pm. NYCNovember 7th 2011Maria ChristinaThe Shrine, 10-11pm. NYCOctober 21, 2011Maria Christina 4Orwell Cafe, 9:30-11:30pm. NYCSept 21st 2011The Well-Tempered Exposition by Pablo Helguera7pm, Location 1, NYCMay 11th 2011Master recital, Manhattan School of Music, Meyer's recording studio 7pm. NYCMay 5th 2010Miles Café, 7:00-8:30. NYCMarch 15th 2010Manhattan School of Music, 7:30pm. NYCMarch 9th 2010Miles Café, 7:30 - 9:30pm. NYCApril 4th 2010Manhattan School of Music, 7:30pm. NYCNov 20th 20105-8pm /w Jarrett Cherner Duo _ Holland Gallery Tunnel. NYCNov 27th 2010:: MARIA CHRISTINA DEBUT !! :: 7pm w/ Maria Christina _ Tutuma Social Club. NYCNov 30th 20107:30pm /w Café Jazz _ MSM, Meyer's Studio. NYCDec 8th 20108:30pm /w MSM Jazz Choir (led by Darmon Meader and Peter Eldridge) _ MSM, Meyer's Studio. NYCDec 8th 20108:30pm /w Café Jazz _ MSM, Meyer's Studio. NYC
Gallery

GALLERY

click to enlarge images

Rooftop shoot with photographer Anouk Deweerdt

Live at Miles' Cafe, pictures by Adam Jason Photography

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Portraits by Krisztina Veress

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Projects/Links

Projects

Maria Christina'Maria Christina' is Maria's ensemble featuring her as a singer, composer and lyricist. It consists of voice, guitar, vibraphone, bass, percussion and occasionally piano, which creates an interesting soundscape and is a challenging environment to compose in. She is lucky to have some of her favorite people and musicians in New York with her and can't wait to record their first album in April.Matt Davis - guitarClaudio Marquez - vibraphoneSam Anning - bassRichie Barshay - drumsextended: Jarrett Cherner - pianoMaria Christina - voice, composition-------------------------------------Jarrett Cherner/Maria Christina DuoJarrett Cherner is a West Coast pianist and moved to the City to do his master's degree at the Manhattan School of Music, where he met Maria. Maria and Jarrett's collaboration started after discovering that they were living in the same neighborhood, West Harlem. They started weekly afternoon sessions and naturally developed a repertoire together that they are currently performing in the City. They plan to tour in Europe in summer/fall 2012.

Links

Theo Bleckmann: Theo is a singer extraordinaire, composer, visual artist, actor and teacher. He is an incredible source of inspiration, my mentor and idol and I am very grateful to have him in my life Peter Eldridge: Peter is an amazing composer, one of the most warm-hearted people I know and an inspiring teacher. Dena DeRose: Dena taught me everything I needed to know before I came to New York. She prepared me in the best way possible and is herself an incredible musician and person.Matt Davis: guitaristJarrett Cherner: pianistClaudio Marquez: vipraphonistSam Anning: bassistRichie Barshay: percussionistPhilip Yaeger: trombonist and composerDan Jamieson: saxophonist and composerRooftop pictures by Anouk DeweerdtLive at Miles Cafe by Adam Jason PhotographyHeadshots by Krisztina Veress

Sponsors

Maria would like to thank her past and present sponsors!

Projects
Links
Sponsors

Contact

I'd love to hear from you, feel free to contact me!

I am available for teaching and performing and will try to answer all your questions and inquiries.

Please join the NEWSLETTER in the right hand corner of this website! Thank you!

maria.spiessberger_gmail.com

US: (001) 917-216-6671

AT: (0043) 650-840-1405

DONATE

THE DEAL $1 OR MORE:free download of the first finished song prior completion of the album$10 OR MORE:free download of the first song plus a free full download of the completed album prior release$25 OR MORE:all of the above plus a autographed hardcopy of the album$50 OR MORE:all of the above plus a personalized autographed poster of an exclusive photo of us working in the studio$100 OR MORE: ** SPECIAL **all of the above plus a T-Shirt special edition for donors only with the logo:'Without me Maria Christina would be nothing'$150 OR MORE:all of the above plus 2 free tickets to our next show in your area and a drink backstage with me and the band$200 OR MORE:all of the above plus a home-cooked dinner at your or my house [if you are in NYC or Austria] ora batch of home-made cookies of your choice [if preferred or if you are not living nearby]$300 OR MORE:all of the above plus I will write and record A SONG FOR YOU about any topic and for any occasion you want!$500 OR MOREall of the above plus a personal DUO CONCERT for you and for any occasion! If you are not in an area close by we are happy to play for you via Skype!
Rounded Edge

All donations over $100 will get a special mention in the 'sponsors section' on this website! With donations over $500 you will get a special mention on the recording!

THE PROJECT

My dear friends,I would like to give you a little bit of an insight about the thoughts behind the album, my compositions and lyric writing and hope to win you over to donate and help me realizing this record I am working on for years now!I am eternally grateful for the people involved in the project. Theo Bleckmann, my mentor and major musical influence will be with me in the studio as the artistic advisor, which I am very excited about. Furthermore, the wonderful Peter Eldridge will sit in on one of the songs on piano. The band consists out of some of my favorite people and musicians and I can't wait to make music with them!

The Music:

It will include most of my own compositions I wrote within the last few years, influenced by my life in Europe and New York City. The instrumentation of my band is voice, guitar, vibraphone, bass, drums and occasionally piano, which creates a very interesting soundscape for the listener and a challenging environment for me as the composer. Since vibraphone, guitar and voice are moving in a pretty similar range it was sometimes tricky to write so that they wouldn't get into each others way. I ended up writing a lot of through composed music, using single line writing as well. Stylistically the music is rooted in jazz, branching out to alternative, rock, folk, pop and contemporary classical music. Like most musicians I went through different phases with my music, which will be reflected on the album.

The Lyrics:

Most of my lyrics are autobiographical, telling stories about topics and people occupying my thoughts. Mostly I simply have to write something off my chest, topics I need to digest or have to deal with at a given time. Sometimes the lyrics exist before the music, which automatically gives the music direction, intention and meaning. I also love poetry and started writing music to works by some of my favorite poets like Frank O'Hara, E.E. Cummings, Mary Oliver and Kahlil Gibran. These compositions will also be featured on my record and I'm very excited to share them with you!

In 'The People' section you can find out more about who will be involved with the record and I'm very grateful to have them on board with me.

Thanks a lot for your continuing support and for believing in what I'm doing!

Much love,

Maria

THE PEOPLE

I am grateful to have such generous people around me, willing to offer advice, share their experiences and help me with the musical and logistical decisions of this project!Matt Davis: guitaristJarrett Cherner: pianistClaudio Marquez: vipraphonistSam Anning: bassistRichie Barshay: percussionistPeter Eldridge: special guest on pianoTheo Bleckmann: artistic advisorDaniel Jamieson: assistant producerPhilip Yaeger: my right hand and advisor for, well, everything. . . and YOU!Thank you very much for your support!
Rounded Edge

THE DEAL
THE PROJECT
THE PEOPLE

I am excited to announce that I will be recording my first album in April 2012 and need YOUR HELP! Please become part of the project and get involved by donating, enjoying special offers for donors only.

- EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS! -

THANK YOU!!!

Please find out more about the thought behind the album in 'The Project ' section.