Crista Kende

Crista received her A.B. from Princeton University, a history major with a music pefformance certificate. At Princeton she performed numerous recitals with her sisters, Alexis (class of 2005) and Daniela (class of 2009) in addition to a Katrina benefit concert, an interdenominational pro-life service on campus and a young musician's interactive concert at the Princeton Public Library. Crista graduated from the Juilliard Pre-College in 2003 where she was a viola student of the late Eugene Becker in whose honor she performed for the second time as a soloist with the Juillard Pre-College Chamber Orchestra (PCCO) in December 2006. Her first PCCO solo was in 1999 as winner of the annual Juilliard concerto competition. Crista received an oustanding student award at Juilliard in 2002 and performed at her own graduation from the Pre-College in 2003. She was twice selected to represent the Juilliard school at the Alice Tully Hall "Wednesdays at one" concert series. Crista studied viola with Nicholas Cordes at Princeton and Grigory Kalinovsky of the Manhattan School of Music. She was invited in 2006 and 2007 to attend the Pinkas Zuckernan Young Artist's festival in Ottawa. summer 2005, Crista, her sisters and younger brother, Stefan, a double bassist, started a music festival at Bailey Arboretum on Long Island where they performed with fellow musicians and conducted a master class to introduce young children to music. During the summer of 2004, Crista was invited to perform at the Schlern International Music Festival in Italy, where she was a student of Alvaro Gomez and also participated in master classes and solo and chamber music concerts at numerous venues.

Crista began her music studies at age four on the violin, switching to viola at age 10. Before entering the Juilliard School, Crista attended Mannes and the Manhattan School of Music. She also studied piano with Karen Beluso, PhD, the Juilliard School, who also serves as accompanist for the trio. Several years ago, Crista was awarded a Virtu Foundation Scholarship instrument which she uses at all her performances. In 2001, she was invited by The NY Viola Society to perform the debut of a new viola concerto at Bargemusic as winner of the 2001 NY Viola Society Competition.

In 1997, Crista and her sisters, Alexis (violin) and Daniela (cello) formed The Kende Trio. In 1999, the Kende trio played for the late Pope John Paul II in Rome during Palm Sunday mass at St. Peter’s Basilica and at the General Audience as the Holy Father blessed the handicapped from around the world. While in Rome, Crista performed at the Church of Santa Maria, a centuries-old patron of the arts, and for the Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See. In N.Y. Crista and her sisters also performed for the British and Hungarian ambassadors and for the late Cardinal O’Connor at the beatification of Padre Pio.

Crista and her sisters were featured on WQXR Radio debuting an original composition by a Juilliard classmate. Crista has performed at numerous music festivals including Sevenars, Bridgehampton, Mohonk, Morgan Park and at Bargemusic. Crista performs regularly at area concert venues including Old Westbury Gardens, a historical landmark, and at local churches, libraries, book stores, nursing/adult homes, hospitals and at benefits for worthy causes. Crista and her sisters are available on request to perform at private functions.