My Story
Hi, I’m Christina, and I am super passionate about performing and teaching classical music. I’ll be using this blog to share things I learn along the way as a performer, teacher, and parent. I am constantly experimenting, and I love forging new pathways.
I am the first in my family to become a musician. Both my parents were medical doctors – my dad recently retired as an ophthalmologist, and my mom was a physiatrist. The story goes that when I was a baby, classical music was the quickest way to get me to stop crying. Needless to say, I listened to a lot of music growing up! My older sister also played the violin, so I was able to preview all the Suzuki repertoire I was about to learn.
Every Saturday, my parents would drive us an hour each way to attend Peabody Preparatory in Baltimore where I got an amazing start to my studies. Only now as a teacher do I realize just how lucky I was to have this opportunity to have a comprehensive musical education from the beginning. I studied violin, theory, chamber music and orchestra all in one day, and I loved it!
Eventually my sister got her driver’s license, and we could make the trip on our own. One of my favorite chamber music memories is playing in a group with her, Nadia Sirota, and Eli Lara, and our coach was Tom Kraines. I still remember the moments before we walked on stage at the Fischoff Competition in 2000…we made a choice to let go. It was amazing to release and play with complete trust with my partners. We left with a lasting memory and a gold medal.
After my time at Peabody, I went on to study at the Cleveland Institute of Music Young Artist Program, Walnut Hill School for the Arts/New England Conservatory Prep, then to Juilliard for my undergrad and masters, and finally Stony Brook University for my DMA.
After my formal education was complete, I started teaching at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University where I have just completed my 10th year. Currently in the Blair pre-college, I have students ages 5-18 and coordinate pre-college chamber music. At the collegiate level, I teach Violin and Viola Pedagogy, and Advanced Scales for Violinists, Advanced Scales for Violists, coach chamber music, and offer independent studies. I am also the Pedagogy Mentor for the Community Scholars Program, a scholarship program a scholarship program that promotes social engagement in the musical arts and harnesses the power of music to build community connections.
As a performer, I have been the concertmaster of the Nashville Opera for 9 years, and I’m in the 2nd year as concertmaster of the Owensboro Symphony. My passion for chamber music continues, and I play several programs with colleagues every season.
I am married to an incredible musician, violinist Stephen Miahky, and we have 2 amazing children who have changed my life. They are 5 and 8 years old, and they challenge me to grow every single day. Being a parent has added a dimension to my life which enriches my perspective as a musician and teacher.
That’s my story, and I can’t wait to share more ideas with you about music, teaching, practicing, and parenting as we go! Thank you for being here with me.