Christina Birchall-Sampson (née Sampson) read Music at Emmanuel College Cambridge, and later continued her postgraduate vocal training (MMus with distinction) at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she studied with John Evans. She has more recently studied with Julian Gavin, David Barrell and Jonathan Papp.

Christina Birchall Sampson Soprano Singer Opera Singer Concert Recital Singer

In 2008, she made her solo debut at Staatsoper Berlin, Aix-en-Provence and Innsbruck festivals in a staged production of Handel Belshazzar, conducted by René Jacobs, and released on DVD by Harmonia Mundi; she recently resumed the role at Opera du Capitôle, Toulouse. Other complete roles include: Violetta, Verdi La Traviata; Tatiana,Tchaikovsky Eugene Onegin; Clorinda, Rossini La Cenerentola; Bastienne, Mozart Bastien und Bastienne; Madam Silberklang, Mozart Der Schauspieldirektor; Musetta, Puccini La Bohème, Gretel, Humperdinck Hansel and Gretel; Daisy, Toby Young The Daisy Chain and Juliette, Gounod Roméo et Juliette.

Christina has performed a wide range of solo oratorio repertoire, including: Mendelssohn Elijah (Latymer and Godolphin Choral Society/Mark Laflin); Handel Judas Maccabeus (CUMS Chorus/Stephen Cleobury and Highgate Choral Society/Ronald Corp); Beethoven Mass in C (Tim Brown/King’s College Cambridge); Britten A Boy was Born (Epsom Chamber Choir/Piers Maxim); Haydn Creation (Stowmarket Chorale); Mozart Requiem (West Barnes Singers); Respighi Laud to the Nativity and Stravinsky Mass (Louth Choral Society); Bach Magnificat and Vivaldi Dixit Dominus (Wimbledon Choral Society/ Neil Ferris); Goodall Eternal Light, Handel Gloria and Dixit Dominus (City of Bristol Choir/ David Ogden); Handel Gloria and Let the bright seraphim (Exon Singers/Richard Wilberforce); Handel Messiah (Amici Chamber Choir/David Gould) and Handel Israel in Egypt (Louth Choral Society). Other engagements have included Bach B minor Mass, Haydn Die Jahreszeiten and Nelson Mass as well as Requiem masses by Mozart, Brahms, Fauré, Duruflé and Bruneau.

Christina is a passionate recitalist: she has performed at the Wigmore Hall (Voiceworks project) and throughout the UK, in Aix-en-Provence and Copenhagen, and for Graham Johnson’s song series at GSMD. She frequently collaborates with pianists John Reid, Chris Hopkins and Eva Maria Doroszkowska. Most recent recital programmes have included Strauss Four Last Songs and Berg Seven Early Songs.

Prizes include an MBF award, Hampshire Singing Competition second prize, Lilian Baylis bursary and the John Sim Prize for contemporary song. She was also a finalist in the Emmy Destinn singing competition.

Christina also sings for film, TV and video game soundtracks with London Voices and the Pinewood Singers, and with vocal ensembles including the BBC Singers, Gabrieli Consort and English Voices. She has performed live on TV shows including Strictly Come Dancing, GMTV, This Morning, Jonathan Ross and the Alan Titchmarsh Show.

She is an experienced voice teacher of students of all ages and abilities and is the leader of community choir My Town Choir Watford.