about

Kristia Michael is a vocalist, composer, and sound artist hailing from Cyprus. She has obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Studies from ARTE Music Academy in Cyprus, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Education Sciences from the University of Cyprus. Kristia pursued advanced studies at The Royal Conservatory of The Hague, where she earned her Master’s degree in “New Audiences and Innovative Practice” with cum laude distinction. During her studies, she received guidance and mentorship from Noa Frenkel, Natalia Pshenischnikova, and Yannis Kyriakides.

Her focus lies in the experiential, ritualistic, and spiritual aspects of music, delving into the extensive exploration of the voice as an instrument within medieval, traditional, and contemporary repertoire.

She is the founder and artistic director of Sibil·la Ensemble, which combines sacred and secular music from Western medieval rituals and traditions. The ensemble released the first immersive audiovisual album Viriditas in collaboration with TRPTK, on March 15th. She has performed at the Utrecht Early Music Festival, the Festival of European Polyphony in Rhodes, the Early Music Festivals of Cyprus, etc. She has collaborated with the ensemble Ex Silentio and shared the stage with artists like Marcel Pérès.

Regarding contemporary music and composition, she has a profound interest in the exploration and use of extended vocal techniques, pure tones, folk timbres, and the realm of performance art. She devotes herself to long-term collaborations with composers for world premieres, recordings, diverse multimedia projects, while contributing to the creation of new works and performance dramas. She has collaborated with festivals and institutions, including Dag in de Branding (NL), Orkest de Ereprijs (NL), MusicAeterna and Dom.Radio (RU), and Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, and she has worked closely with the ensembles Nieuw Amsterdams Peil (NL), Arctic Trio Ensemble (NW), Φ Faos Ensemble (GR), and Kali Ensemble (NL). She has recorded for theatres, music theatres, movies and ballets.

Kristia has composed various pieces encompassing vocal music and multichannel sound installations. These have been premiered in new music concerts and festivals such as Dag in de Branding (NL), EPICENTROOM Festival (RU), SPRING Festival (NL), IMZ International Music + Media Centre (AU), and State Hermitage Museum (RU), where her compositions served as soundtracks for an exhibition featuring Albrecht Dürer’s works. In 2020, she collaborated with Andreas Moustoukis on the album “Silent Lands”.