KRISTINA COOK
Kristina has always been driven by her goals. After high school, she decided to be a pre-med major. As soon as she found out she had to dissect a fetal pig, she decided music might be a better fit. In addition to playing both the viola and the violin, she has studied piano, mastered numerous languages, and was even a competitive body builder.
She went on to earn a BM in vocal and viola performance from Texas Christian University. While there, she was principal violist in the TCU symphony. She also sang in Le nozze di Figaro (Cherubino), Donizetti’s Viva La Mamma (the Musico), Jose Serrano’s zarzuela, La Dolorosa (Anicasia), and Salieri’s First the Music, Then the Words (Tonina). Other mezzo credits include Così fan Tutte (Dorabella), and Carmen (Carmen). She was also a soloist in Bach’s Magnificat and Couperin’s Magnificat with The Boston Cecilia.
After university, Kristina received a MM in vocal performance from New England Conservatory. There, she sang Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia (Lucretia) and Le Nozze di Figaro (Cherubino). In reviewing Figaro, The Boston Globe praised her as “supremely funny.” She also performed as soloist in the premier of Missa in Re Menor by Mexican-American composer, Arturo Rodriguez, with the Camerata de Monterrey. She has been honored to premier several works written for her voice by Mr. Rodriguez and by Boston composer, Leonardo Ciampa.
Kristina took some time off from music to pursue other life goals. She was rediscovered by a friend and brought back into the music world, where premier tenor and director of Taconic Opera, Dan Montez, encouraged her to explore repertoire with a higher tessitura. After retraining in her new fach, Kristina’s debut soprano role was Mercédès in Carmen with the Taconic Opera in 2016. Subsequent appearances serving as a resident artist with the company and its sister organization, the New York Opera Conservatory, include Massenet’s Manon (Manon), Suor Angelica (Angelica), Il Tabarro (Giorgetta), Norma (Norma),
Puccini’s Manon Lescaut (Manon), The Pearl Fishers (Leïla), Lucia di Lammermoor (Lucia), La Traviata (Violetta), Don Giovanni (Donna Anna), Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Konstanze), La Bohème (Mimì), Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza), Gianni Schicchi (Lauretta), Così fan Tutte (Fiordiligi), Un Ballo in Maschera (Amelia), Die Fledermaus (Rosalinde), and Dan Montez’ In Bocca al Lupo – World Premier (Tammy Smithson).
In addition to her operas, she has appeared as soloist in Verdi’s Requiem and Duruflé’s Requiem with the Taconic Opera, Saint- Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio with the Hudson Chorale and Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 by Heitor Villa-Lobos with the Chappaqua Orchestra. Kristina’s 2023 season will include her first Tosca and her first Ariadne in Ariadne auf Naxos.
When she is not singing, Kristina loves hiking and all things athletic. Her favorite role to play, however, is favorite Auntie to her niece and nephew.
KESSA MEFFORD
At the end of 2019, Kessa released her debut album with Whole Note Publishing featuring the live performance of the Beethoven concerto as well as other works performed live in 2016 by Scriabin, Bach, Menotti, and Scarlatti. Her second album is being released today with Kristina Cook, featuring the complete art songs of Ravel. She is currently working on two more albums, a solo piano program; “Gaspard de la nuit,” featuring the works from Whimsical Birdsong’s January 2022 performance, and an album featuring the works from Whimsical Birdsong’s May 2021 performance.
Kessa received an MM in piano performance from the Mannes School of Music in May 2020, graduating with the prestigious Steinway Award for exceptional pianists with excellent artistry and service to the school and fellow students. She received multiple generous music merit scholarships while studying under Simone Dinnerstein. Through Mannes, Kessa was able to participate in the Neighborhood Classics concert series organized by Dinnerstein. She also performed in several Mannes Sounds Festival concerts, including “Bach’s Footsteps," two years in a row,, as well as concerts featuring the works of female composers such as Clara Schumann and Amy Beach. Kessa received a BM in piano performance in August 2017 at Brigham Young University, where she received several academic and music merit scholarships. While at BYU, she studied with Dr. Richard Anderson and Dr. Irene Peery-Fox.
For the last several years, Kessa has also worked actively as a vocal accompanist. She is currently the rehearsal pianist for Taconic Opera and the New York Opera Conservatory, playing rehearsals and performances for multiple operas a year. She also teaches private piano lessons at the Cortlandt School of Performing Arts.
Kessa has participated in countless recitals, concerts, and master classes. Her master class and coaching opportunities have allowed her to work with renowned pianists Kirill Gliadkovsky, Evelyn Chen, Michael Gurt, Tamás Ungár, Marc Silverman, and Evelyne Brancart. Her recent awards include 1st place in the Best Brahms Performance edition of the Great Composers Competition series, 2nd place in the Best Liszt Performance and 3rd place in the Artist of the Year editions of the same series. When Kessa is not practicing, she is training in her black belt classes in karate, playing video games, or spending time with her husband and two cats.