Christie Finn ’07, Music
Check out her site: http://christiefinn.com
Biography: Christie Finn, soprano, is a two-time winner of an interpretation prize at the International Stockhausen Concerts and Courses (Kürten, Germany). A two-time winner of an interpretation prize at the International Stockhausen Concerts and Courses (Kürten, Germany), she recently performed in the New York premiere of Georges Aperghis’ music theater piece Sextuor: L’origine des Espèces. As a member of the Tactus Contemporary Ensemble based in New York City, Finn performs frequently as a soloist. Of her March 2011 performance of Betsy Jolas’ Quartet No. 2 with Tactus, the New York Times praised her “lovely account of this complicated score” and how she “surrendered to the music’s florid impulses.”
She is a founder and member of the experimental music duo NOISE-BRIDGE, collaborating with clarinetist Felix Behringer, as well as the trio Synchronous (cello, piano, and soprano trio). Finn is also an active member of the new vocal ensemble ekmeles. The release of the album The Year Begins To Be Ripe (Sonic Arts Editions) marked her recording debut. She has performed Lieder recitals in Austria, operatic works in Italy, and contemporary works by southwestern American composers with the Voices of Change Ensemble of Dallas, Texas.
In addition to her busy performance schedule, Finn also works for the non-profit Hampsong with artistic director and American baritone Thomas Hampson. She serves as content manager of the Song of America database, which catalogues American composers, writers, and songs. Finn is also a research consultant for the Hampsong radio series on American song in collaboration with WFMT Chicago, as well as script writer for two upcoming episodes. Finn is also a poet, having collaborated with composer Matt Aelmore on a new song cycle about the commedia dell’arte character Pierrot.
At UMBC, Finn successfully competed for an Undergraduate Research Award (URA) to support development of her creative work in her sophomore, junior, and senior years. After graduating from UMBC, Finn completed her Masters of Music at Southern Methodist University studying with Joan Heller. She will finish her studies with Lucy Shelton in the Contemporary Performance Program at Manhattan School of Music this May.