About
I am a cellist whose artistic practice is rooted in rigorous classical training and enriched by a sustained engagement with music semiology—the study of how music conveys meaning beyond words. My work bridges performance and critical inquiry.
For me, performance transcends the mere realization of the written score; it is an interpretive act deeply informed by historical context, expressive nuance, and the symbolic resonance of sound.
Critics have described my playing as having “incredible depth,” a “haunting sound,” and “exemplary musicianship,” reflecting my commitment to uncovering the emotional and philosophical layers woven into each composition. I am especially drawn to repertoires that inhabit the spaces between traditions, where forms, tonalities, and timbres become cross-cultural signifiers, inviting rich interpretive dialogue.
These interests inspired my album *Across the Ages*, which features works by Alan Hovhaness—a composer whose synthesis of Western classical idioms with ancient Armenian, Japanese, and Indian musical traditions invites profound semiotic and spiritual inquiry.
My interpretive approach is significantly shaped by my classical training with János Starker, whose insistence on structural clarity and tonal integrity remains foundational to my technique. Additionally, my studies with Robert Hatten, a pioneer in musical semiotics, have shaped my understanding of music as a symbolic language rich in emotional, historical, and cultural meaning—meanings that emerge through thoughtful performance.
Alongside performing, I am dedicated to mentoring emerging artists, fostering not only technical mastery but also interpretive insight. I believe that music is both an intellectual and emotional endeavor, requiring performers to be attuned not only to what they play but also to why and how they play it.
My current artistic and scholarly pursuits explore underrepresented repertoires that synthesize cultural traditions or convey meaning through non-Western tonalities, formal paradigms, and spiritual aesthetics. Through performance, pedagogy, and research, I seek to expand the interpretive horizons of classical music, inviting audiences and students alike into a deeper engagement with music as a living medium of memory, narrative, and cultural resonance.
F E A T U R E D R E V I E W S
Across the Ages Album
"This is a fine collection of his cello music, ending with a rather unusual 15–minute suite for cello and percussion—a transcription of a work he originally scored for South Indian instruments. The suite is well worth hearing and makes a colorful ending to a lovely program. [Gullans] plays this music with fine attention to its phrasing and thoughtful nature. Her pianist has made many recordings, and they work together beautifully. The recorded sound is fine"
-American Record Guide​ July/August 2020
"American cellist Christina Gullans is a highly persuasive advocate for Hovhaness’ music, with a rich, full tone, exemplary musicianship—especially in her partnership with Jeremy Filsell (familiar to British listeners perhaps from his recordings of Howells and Bernard Stevens)—and understanding of this composer’s richly varied cultural and musical palette. Albany’s sound is nicely balanced, not too closely miked, not too distant, especially in Nagooran where Gullans is never overpowered by the excellent percussion quintet of the Sowne Ensemble. A fine disc".
-Musical Opinion. Jan-Mar 2021