Choral Life
An enduring engagement with choral music, arts education, and concert production.
National Children's Chorus Concert
Washington, D.C.
Choral music has been a significant part of Cristina Demiany’s creative and professional life for more than three decades.
Beginning with her early musical training and continuing through a decade of national arts leadership, her work in the field has encompassed performance, education, organizational development, and concert production.
Early Choral Training
Cristina began painting and singing at the age of thirteen. While earning her Bachelor of Arts in Art History at the University of California, Los Angeles, she auditioned for the UCLA Chorale and developed a lasting interest in classical choral music.
Under the direction of conductor Donald Neuen, she performed works including Bach’s Magnificat, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, Mozart’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Handel’s Messiah, and Verdi’s Requiem.
During this period, she also studied classical voice privately with Professor Emeritus Michael Dean.
National Children's Chorus Concert
New York
With students of the National Children's Chorus
Los Angeles, California
In her twenties, Cristina co-founded the National Children’s Chorus of the United States (NCC) and led the organization for approximately ten years, serving initially as Executive Director and, in her final years, as Executive Director and President.
During her tenure, the organization developed into a national nonprofit serving more than 1,000 families and providing advanced educational and performance opportunities for young singers.
Cristina oversaw bicoastal operations, a national team of more than 100 professionals, and an annual budget of approximately $3 million.
Her development work included establishing a scholarship fund and securing a $1 million lead gift to establish an endowment.
Alongside her executive responsibilities, Cristina helped shape the organization’s artistic presentation and public identity. She conceptualized marketing campaigns, concert environments, and production designs for critically-acclaimed performances at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
The NCC also appeared in historic international settings including St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice and the Great Wall of China.
Cristina concluded her work with the National Children’s Chorus in 2019.
Return to Choral Singing
Following her departure from the organization, Cristina increasingly focused on visual art and the development of her studio practice. In 2026, she returned to choral singing as a member of the California Desert Chorale in Palm Springs.
This renewed participation continues her longstanding engagement with choral music alongside her primary work as a contemporary painter.
National Children's Chorus
Production Design
During her tenure with the National Children’s Chorus, Cristina created concert environments that used lighting, color, and staging to shape the visual presentation of choral performance.
Selected production designs are shown below.
