PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY

A transplant of Kansas, soprano Christa Tumlinson has performed as a professional vocalist across Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, and has set down roots as an instructor and performer in Austin, Texas. Ms. Tumlinson specializes in performing and promoting new vocal music with the intention of bridging the gap between classical and contemporary song. A highly sought after vocalist, Christa is frequently hired as a featured soloist for choral ensembles and music festivals in California and Texas. In Austin, Ms. Tumlinson is proud to sing as a section leader in Inversion Ensemble, Austin’s premiere vocal ensemble for new choral music. She is also a section leader for Panoramic Voices, an inclusive and innovative community chorus. She has been the Soprano Soloist and Section leader at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church since 2015.

Her past highlights include professionally performing with the Ojai Music Festival and San Francisco’s well renowned ensemble Volti - a chamber choir that has been on the forefront of new music premieres and commissions for over 40 years. Ms. Tumlinson has also toured as a singer and administrator to Europe, Asia, Africa, and around the USA.

In addition to her active performance career, Ms. Tumlinson is an accredited music instructor with an active private studio. Her home studio is located in Southwest Austin, and she is a coach, clinician and musical director all over town - most notably for the Paramount Theater’s Education program. In the past, Christa was an esteemed teacher at Bowie High School, Eastside Music School, and Northwest School of music. As a teacher, Christa is passionate about her students’ artistic journey and inspires each individual to progress based on their own musical goals while teaching the necessary skills needed to guide them. She loves working with teenagers and adults and helps each student find their own authentic and uniquely expressive voice in a healthy way.

Ms. Tumlinson believes that healthy vocal technique is the foundation for all great singing and works with singers of all experience levels and all genres. She teaches a method of fully embodied singing without tension, which incorporates cross disciplinary philosophies with roots in yoga, mindfulness, and holistic health.

Christa’s students have a long list of accomplishments, including Superior rankings in the UIL Texas State Solo Competition, acceptance into Austin's selective Fine Arts Academies and university programs across the country, as well as acceptance into summer training programs nationwide. Her students frequently are awarded leading roles in musical productions, featured solos in choir concerts, and gain confidence that carries them through all of life’s journey. Many of Christa’s former students have professional careers in music education and performance.

Christa is an in demand clinician with vocal and theater programs, as well as an active pianist and composer. Ms. Tumlinson received her Bachelor’s degree in Voice from California State University, Fullerton.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• In demand section leader and soloist in Austin, including Inversion Ensemble and Panoramic Voices

• Featured soloist at the Ojai Music Festival under the direction of Jeremy Denk

• Seven seasons with the professional ensemble Volti of San Francisco, and collaborating with the Kronos Quartet, Berkeley Symphony, and Cal Performances

• Worked with distinguished composers Morten Lauridsen, Eric Whitacre, Terry Riley, and John Adams

• Collaboration with influential living composers, including Shawn Crouch, Melissa Dunphy, Forrest Pierce, Eric Banks, John Muehleisen, Kirke Mecham, Ted Hearne, and others

UPCOMING GIGS

• SXSW: KMFA New Classical Music Showcase

• SXSW Official: Film Premiere for the Movie “Immaculate”

• Inversion Ensemble Spring Concert at Austin Public Library

• Panoramic Voices and Central Texas Philharmonic Requiescat featuring Mozart’s Requiem

• Carnegie Hall performances of Mozart’s Requiem