Bio
Dr. Kristina Rizzotto has played concerts in Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, and in 21 American states. Highlights include Rīga Dom Cathedral and Liepāja’s Holy Trinity Cathedral in Latvia; Pelplin Cathedral International Organ Festival in Poland; Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston; Christopher Summer Festival in Vilnius, Lithuania; Basilica of the Blessed Sacrament in Buenos Aires; Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver; Anchorage Lutheran Church in Alaska; and the American Guild of Organists’ OrganFest 2021 at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Minnesota.
Dr. Rizzotto was named a member of The Diapason’s 20 Under 30, which recognizes young leaders in the fields of organ, harpsichord, carillon, and church music. She is the Director of Music at Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Dr. Rizzotto is also a self-published composer composer for organ, choir, and piano, with emphasis in sacred repertoire for religious services. All her compositions are available for download here and she is open for commissions. She was previously the organist at the Benedictine Abbey of Rio de Janeiro, built in 1590 and home of one of the oldest organs in South America, from 1773.
Dr. Rizzotto’s YouTube channel features 350+ organ, piano, and choral recordings which have been viewed over 2 million times.
Kristina holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ Performance from the University of Oklahoma, a Master of Music in Sacred Music and Organ Performance from East Carolina University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Magna cum Laude. She is grateful for the inspiration of her teachers and mentors, especially Miriam Grosman, Alexandre Rachid, Andrew Scanlon, Mark Taggart, and John Schwandt. Her doctoral dissertation was about the importance of music in the formation of the national identity of the Latvian people, focusing on organ compositions by Aivars Kalējs which represent the values and spirit of the Latvian heritage.