Christina Orjis

• QUALIFICATIONS:
• MMus Dist. Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) 2023
• PGDipMus New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) 2013
• BMus New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) 2012
• ROLES:
• Aunt Norris Mansfield Park – Dove Lee Reynolds Stephen Barlow RNCM 2023 (& 2020*)
• Rosalinde Die Fledermaus – J. Strauss David Parry Stephen Barlow RNCM 2022
• La Ciesca Gianni Schicchi – Puccini Rosemary Barnes Sally Sloman Opera Factory (NZ) '16
• Angelica Suor Angelica – Puccini Rosemary Barnes Sally Sloman Opera Factory (NZ) '15
• Mother Hansel & Gretel – Humperdinck Rosemary Barnes Sally Sloman Opera Factory (NZ) '14
• Gulnara Il Corsaro – Verdi Kenneth Young Sara Brodie NZSM (NZ) 2013

Christina Orjis is a New Zealand soprano who studied at the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington, where she received a Victoria University Excellence Scholarship and the NZSM Director’s Post-Graduate Scholarship. Whilst there, Christina was the lead ‘Gulnara’ in the Australasian premiere of Verdi’s ‘Il Corsaro’ at the Wellington Opera House, was a soloist with the NZSM Orchestra at their “Wagner and Verdi Celebration” (recorded for Radio NZ Concert in the Wellington Town Hall), and sang with acclaimed NZ Heldentenor Simon O’Neill for a NZSM fundraising concert at Te Papa.

Christina has performed the title role in ‘Suor Angelica’, ‘La Ciesca’ in ‘Gianni Schicchi’ and ‘Mother’ in ‘Hansel and Gretel’ for Auckland based company Opera Factory, has appeared live on television as an Anthem Singer for Netball New Zealand (Malawi National Anthem), and was a member of the New Zealand Opera Chorus 2013-18 (and 2022).

Christina has been a finalist in many local New Zealand competitions and in 2017 she was the Winner of the Ronald Dellow Memorial Vocal Recital Competition. She has also been lucky enough to participate in numerous Masterclasses, including with: Dame Kiri te Kanawa; Dame Malvina Major; Prof. Paul Farrington; Dennis O’Neill; renowned New York based teacher, David Jones; and Simon O’Neill.

Christina completed her first year at the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester, UK) in 2020, under Mary Plazas with the generous support of the James and Mary Glass Scholarship (RNCM). During her six months there she was selected as the Soprano Representative for the RNCM at the Bergen National Opera for their production of Verdi’s ‘Macbeth’ in Norway as Professional Chorus, but this was unfortunately cancelled due to Covid. Christina was also cast as ‘Aunt Norris’ in Jonathan Dove’s opera ‘Mansfield Park’, but this production was cancelled three days before opening night.

Christina headed home to New Zealand for 2 years during Covid and whilst home she performed with the NZ Opera Chorus in their concerts of Verdi’s ‘Requiem’ and ‘Il Trovatore’ in July 2022. She also made her Auckland Opera Studio debut in August 2022 at their ‘Town Hall Opera Gala’ at the Auckland Town Hall singing excerpts from R. Strauss’ ‘Der Rosenkavalier’ as ‘Octavian’.

Christina was pleased to be back at the RNCM in 2022 to complete her studies with Mary Plazas and proceeded to win the lead role of ‘Rosalinde’ in their December opera, ‘Die Fledermaus’, rehearsing it for three months, and in the spring Christina thoroughly enjoyed finally bringing the role of ‘Aunt Norris’ to life in the RNCM’s ‘Mansfield Park’.

Christina graduated with her Master of Music with Distinction in November 2023 and is continuing to work with Mary Plazas whilst preparing to audition for new opportunities.