Album Notes

Crissa started piano lessons at an early age and later earned a B.Mus. from UBC in Vancouver. She earned her M.A. in music from CWRU in Cleveland in 1980. Although she loves just about all kinds of music, she passionately enjoys playing pieces by masters like Beethoven and Chopin.
Once she moved to Vancouver Island in 1994, she had more time to realize her dream of composing contemporary classical piano music. Most of the music is inspired by the dazzling natural beauty surrounding her; she tries to capture the beauty, the hope and the optimism and transmit it to her listeners.
The CD has been played on CBC Radio (across Canada) and on some European radio stations. Music critics (including professors of music) see the influence of Debussy, Rachmaninoff and Stravinsky, but admit that her music is entirely original. Some have called it "captivating", "rich" and "lush". A journalist in Parksville called her "an exceptional pianist and an incredible artist". A critic in Vienna called the music "extraordinary".
Crissa recently played one of the pieces on television in Nanaimo and gave two solo concerts of her own compositions.