Kristia Michael is a vocalist, composer, and sound artist from Cyprus, based in the Netherlands. 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 master studies, she received guidance and mentorship from Noa Frenkel, Natalia Pshenischnikova, Yannis Kyriakides and Renee Jonker.
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, baroque, traditional, and contemporary repertoire.
She devotes her practice to the creation of new works, collaborating with composers on world premieres, engaging in recordings, and contributing to multidisciplinary and experimental initiatives. Her research includes the exploration and use of extended vocal techniques, pure tones, folk timbres, and the realm of performance art. She has performed as a soloist at the Dutch National Opera and Ballet, AngelicA Festival, Greek National Opera, Dag in de Branding, Echonance Festival, Andriessen Festival, November Music, KM28, Haus am Waldsee, and collaborated with the Opera Forward Festival, Muze van Zuid and Hamburger Bahnhof, among others. Her performance work spans ensembles and institutions including Nieuw Amsterdams Peil, MusicAeterna, Orkest de Ereprijs, Ensemble Modelo62, Ekhos Trio, MMMD, ΤΕΤΤΙΞ, Kali Ensemble, the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra and Culture Moves Europe..
Kristia 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 internationally immersive audiovisual album of medieval music Viriditas in collaboration with TRPTK, in 2024. With Sibil·la Ensemble, she has performed among others at the Utrecht Early Music Festival, Concentus Moraviae, Wonderfeel, Musica Antiqua Nova, New European Bauhaus, Sacred Music Festival, Kvarner Festival, Faneromeni24 and Muze van Zuid. Since 2026, the ensemble is part of the European program Sustainable Eeemerging. Kristia also collaborates with other early music ensembles, such as Ex Silentio, Nocturnalia and Elikωn Ensemble, and has shared the stage with artists like Emma Kirkby, Marcel Pérès, Dimitris Kountouras and Sokratis Sinopoulos.
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), Kournos Music Festival (GR), 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”.
Discography
• Bagalāmukhi — with Nirantar Yakthumba (composition) & Alex Mastichiadis (clavichord), Moving Furniture Records (forthcoming, 2027)
• Absens, The Years — with MMMD, Antifrost Label (1 May 2026)
• The World Album, Perivoli — with Yannis Kyriakides, International Artists Project (1 Aug 2025)
• Viriditas — Audiovisual Album by Sibil·la Ensemble, TRPTK (15 Mar 2024)
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Premieres and *works composed for Kristia
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*Certain sensations are slumber by Michalis Paraskakis with TETTIΞ ~ for two voices and big ensemble [25.10.2026, Greek National Opera]
*Lamento di Maria by Cornelis de Bondt with Kali Ensemble ~ for voice, violin, cello, recorder, traverso, clarinet, two keyboards and organ [17.10.2026, Orgelpark]
*La Recta Musica by Cornelis de Bondt with Kali Ensemble ~ for voice, organ, harmonium, clarinet, recorder, cello, percussion [17.10.2026, Orgelpark]
Zarathustra Choral by Cornelis de Bondt with Kali Ensemble ~ for SABB [17.10.2026, Orgelpark]
*Three Songs about Love by Daniil Pilchen with Kali Ensemble ~ for voice, two pianos, organs and electronics [26.09.2026, Orgelpark]
*The Old by Lucie Nezri with Rebecca Lane ~ for voice, bass flute, piano and electronics [23.06.2026, km28]
*Subtractive Fields by Yannis Kyriakides with Ekhos Trio [07.05.2026, Angelica Festival]
*Collateral Listening by Claudio F. Baroni with Ekhos Trio [07.05.2026, Angelica Festival]
*Ecological Sonic Memories by Ekhos Trio ~ for voice, overtone singing, microtonal accordion, baritone saxophone, Albanian double-flute, Iranian bagpipe [07.05.2026, Angelica Festival]
*To know beauty by Helen Chadwick ~ for two voices [28.05.2026, DanceHouse Nicosia]
Kamalā by Nirantar Yakthumba ~ for voice and Indian harmonium [05.04.2026, Schellingwoude Festival]
Bluets with Pandelis Diamandides ~ for voice, electronics, light [23.12.2025, Nicosia International Festival]
*UR by Saskia Venegas ~ for voice, cello, didgeridoo, percussion and electronics [09.11.2025, November Music]
*Myēsis by Kristia Michael ~ for voice and electronics [17.08.2025, Luksfery]
*Thunder Perfect Mind I, II, III (2025) by Maya Fridman ~ for voice, unfretted guitar, hardy-gurdy, Iranian kamancheh, percussion and electronics [13.06.2025, Oranjewoud Festival]
*Prima Materia III: Last Mask by Myrtó Nizami ~ for voice, ensemble and electronics [07.06.2025, Dag in de Branding]
*Comin’ through the ray by Aggelos Mastrantonis for Sibil•la Ensemble [14.04.2025, Greek National Opera]
*Apíchima by Ioannis Panagiotou for Sibil•la Ensemble [14.04.2025, Greek National Opera]
*Lingua Ignota by Yannis Kyriakides for Sibil•la Ensemble [14.04.2025, Greek National Opera]
*All the Hemispheres by Aspasia Nasopoulou ~ for voice, violin and organ [29.04.2025, Orgalpark]
*Like the Ganges by Aspasia Nasopoulou ~ for voice and organ [29.03.2025, Orgalpark]
*Prima Materia II: Mirror with no reflection by Myrtó Nizami with Ensemble Modelo62 ~ for voice, ensemble and electronics [22.03.2025, Dag in de Branding]
*Remember Thee (Δώρια) (2024) by Kristia Michael for voice and clavichord [16.12.2024, Splendor Amsterdam]
*बगलामुखी (Bagalāmukhi) {x | x⁴ – 5ⁿ = 0} by Nirantar Yakthumba for voice and clavichord [16.12.2024, Splendor Amsterdam]
*Echo Piece by Niko D. Schroeder ~ for three treble voices [08.12.2024, Plein Theater]
*Prima Materia I by Myrtó Nizami with Ensemble Modelo62 ~ for voice, ensemble and electronics [01.06.2024, Dag in de Branding]
*Lēoht by Kristia Michael for voice and organ [20.01.2024, Orgelpark]
Infinite Rage by Soheil Shayesteh ~ for voice, Iranian kamancheh, string quartet, electronics and live visuals [08.10.2023, Uncloud]
*भैरवी त्रिचक्र (Bhairavi Trichakra) by Nirantar Yakthumba with Kali Ensemble ~ for voice, clarinet, cello, piano, tuned metal bars, tape and organ [03.06.2026, Orgelpark]
Outline of a whisper by Amarante Nat ~ for two voices, two trombones and organ [03.06.2026, Orgelpark]
*Eve’s Lament by Nikos Galenianos for four voices and electronics [17.05.2023, 69th International Rostrum of Composers]
*Good day sunshine by Isaac Barzso with Kali Ensemble ~ for voice and ensemble [21.04.2023, Amare]
*Hymns/Mirages by Hidde Kramer ~ for voice and electronics [21.04.2023, Amare]
*The days they wonder away by Amba Klapwijk with Kali Ensemble ~ for voice and ensemble [21.04.2023, Amare]
Anomia by Yannis Kyriakides with Orkest de Ereprijs ~ for singer, large ensemble, video, electronics [25.02.2023, Andriessen Festival]
Limen VI by Tilen Lebar Orkest de Ereprijs ~ for voice and orchestra [25.02.2023, Andriessen Festival]
*La dame complainte by Cornelis de Bondt with Anita Tomasevich ~ for voice and organ [16.10.2022, Church of the Holy Cross]
All the stars / Songs for Ayelet by Yannis Kyriakidesn with Anita Tomasevich ~ for voice and keyboard instrument [16.10.2022, Church of the Holy Cross]
*Hydrochoir (2022) by Amarante Nat ~ for three voices
*PHRASES by Andys Skordis ~ for voice and electronics [31.03.2022, Tanzplan Hamburg]
Mini-operas by Meriç Artaç ~ for four voices and ensemble [16.05.2022, O. Festival]
*The Ugly Duckling by Pedro Latas ~ for voice and electronics [12.03.2022, Dutch National Opera]
*Now we send you this message by Yannis Kyriakides with Musicaeterna ~ for voice, violin, viola, cello, double bass, bass clarinet and soundtrack [18.11.2021, Dom Radio]
*SHE…NEN by Andys Skordis with Musicaeterna ~ for voice, violin, viola, cello, double bass and gong [18.11.2021, Dom Radio]
*Unknown (2021) by Samir TimajChi with Musicaeterna ~ for voice and bass clarinet [18.11.2021, Dom Radio]
*Argos Sidiros opera by Andys Skordis with Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, role of Masako ~ for 8 singers, female choir and orchestra [07.09.2021, Kypria International Festival]
*Nanas de la Cebolla / Onion Lullabies by Amarante Nat ~ for two voices [09.07.2021, De Papegaai]
*Impatient to Assume by Tasos Stylianou with Φaos Ensemble ~ for voice, violin and bass clarinet [09.11.2021, NMF21]
*Sacred Vowels by Georgios Stavrou Φaos Ensemble ~ for voice, violin and bass clarinet [09.11.2021, NMF21]
*Letters from the Garden by Andreas Moustoukis Φaos Ensemble ~ for voice, violin, bass clarinet and tape [09.11.2021, NMF21]
*Gegenlicht by Andreas Moustoukis ~ for voice and bass clarinet [24.06.2021, ARTE Music Academy]
