Cristina Braga

Cristina Braga received her harp training at the School of Music of the State University of Rio de Janeiro and became the first harpist with the Orquestra Sinfônica do Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, while also working with Susan MacDonald in Indiana. She captured the Medalha de Ouro prize in 1992 through a contest organized by UFRJ. From 1993 to 1996 she served among the directors of the World Congress of Harp. Her first appearances as a soloist occurred with the Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira and the Orquestra Sinfônica Pró-Música, the latter supported by Petrobrás. In 1995 she contributed to the Songbook Instrumental Antônio Carlos Jobim by performing Tom Jobim’s “Deus e o Diabo na Terra do Sol” together with Mário Sève. Membership in the instrumental quintet Opus 5 resulted in internationally distributed recordings. In 1996 she joined Brazilian classical guitarist Marcus Braga for the album Alianças, a project centered on Brazilian composers. Her own release Feliz Natal presented a Christmas repertoire drawn from composers such as Chiquinha Gonzaga and Assis Valente. She entered the group Bambu in 1997 and, the following year, issued Natal Brasileiro, another holiday collection recorded with soprano Céline Imbert. In live performances and studio sessions she has accompanied artists including Nara Leão, Ângela Maria, Moreira da Silva, Quarteto em Cy, Zizi Possi, and Titãs.