Who is Christina?

Christina McMaster is a highly creative pianist, collaborator, curator, composer, speaker, wellbeing advocate and founder of Lie down + Listen. Her performances and programmes are stylish and innovative. She has performed extensively nationally and internationally with broadcasts and live performances on BBC Radio and Classic FM. Christina is a truly creative spirit collaborating with a whole host of artists and industries from folk to jazz musicians, rappers, scientists, fashion designers for London Fashion weeks and more. She is dedicated to promoting women composers and inspiring the next generation of girls and was honoured to be a mentor for UNESCO International Day of The Girl. In 2017 she was  awarded an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music for her contribution to the music industry.

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UPCOMING EVENTS: To An Angel - Christina gives an illustrated talk on Americanpioneering composer Ruth Crawford Seeger. Catch her next performance of Scarlatti/Satie/Crawford-Seeger in Cambridge. See events for more details.

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Jazz Collaborations

Christina has commissioned and worked with a range of incredibly talented Jazz musicians including cellist/singer Ayanna Witter-Johnson for a special performance of a reggae influenced piece for ensemble and childrens choir. Violinist/singer Lizzie Ball for her Classical Kicks series at Ronnie Scotts. Trumpeter Jay Phelps and double bassist Mark Lewandowski who feature on Christina's 'Pinks & Blues' album released on her own label MC|MASTER Records which combines classical, contemporary and jazz styles. Available to buy here:

Wellbeing

Lie down + Listen

A classical music concert where the audience lie down and listen...

What happens at Lie down + Listen?

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Founded by Christina in 2018, this beautiful experience is a unique classical music lying down concert preceeded by meditation and restorative yoga. The lying down part calms your central nervous system and allows you to absorb the healing benefits in the music. It's like a gong bath taken to the next level.

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As featured in the press.

#lyingdownisthenewstandingup

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Inspirational women mentors

Christina is dedicated to promoting women composers, reviving lesser known historical composers and their works as well as comissioning contemporary composers. She wants to bring awareness of women's achiements to the next generation of girls and was honoured to be a mentor for the UNESCO 2018 International Day of The Girl. In Autumn 2019 Christina will be touring Universities and Schools across the UK giving a lecture recital on the inspiring and pioneering American composer Ruth Crawford-Seeger. She was both a cutting edge composer and significant folk music transcriber. Crawford-Seeger's versatility and determination in the face of adversity is incrediby inspiring.

Christina with Ruth Crawford-Seeger's daughter and folk musician Peggy Seeger at Kings Place 2019.

Christina playing Ruth Crawford-Seeger's Piano Study for mixed accents.

If you would like Christina to appear at your school, University or anywhere else to share the music and story of Ruth Crawford-Seeger get in touch here:

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Classical Pianist

Christina is a passionate collaborator, working with multiple genres, however her first love is classical music. She trained at the Royal Academy of Music and has built an extensive repertoire which she has performed in major venues and festivals nationally and internationally. She has a special interest in 20th Century French repertoire and  recorded the complete Debussy Etudes which were published on Classic FM during the composers anniversary year. Look out for her forthcoming recordings of Scarlatti's brilliant and virtuosic piano sonatas.

Join Christina's mailing list or subscribe to her YouTube channel to be the first to hear these new recordings.

Multimedia

Christina  performing 'Theatre of Resonance' a work written for her by composer Richard Bullen for multimedia and piano.

Christina has lectured on Multimedia and music uncovering its evolution from Satie to Yoko Ono, John Cage to Bjork. She has presnted this fascinating aspect of the arts at leading universities and arts institutions in America and the UK. From 2014-17 Christina taught a new multimedia and piano course at The Royal Academy of Music for post-graduates. Here she created a new relationship for Royal Academy pianists to work with Central Saint Martins animators.

Christina loves working with media artists of all kinds. If you have a project you would like to work with her on. Get in touch @ christinapiano@mail.com

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Follow Christina on Spotify

Introduction to 20th Century Classical Music

Lots of people ask Christina what to listen to from 20th Century composers - here's a playlist she compiled for you! Including music by Ligeti, Bartok, John Cage, Meredith Monk, Philip Glass, Terry Riley and more!

Composer

Christina has worked as a music advisor and composer in the film, advertising and fashion industry. Watch this beautiful film created by Mary McCartney for which Christina wrote and performed the original music.

To get in touch with Christina to discuss a project email: christinapiano@mail.com