Galician bagpiper and classical pianist Cristina Pato, a staff accompanist and voice coach at New Jersey City University, was among the guest artists who performed on Yo-Yo Ma’s “Yo-Yo Ma and Friends: Songs of Joy and Peace,” winner of a 2010 Grammy Award for “Best Classical Crossover Album.”
An NJCU staff member since 2008, Dr. Pato has performed at venues throughout the United States, Portugal, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Mexico, and her native Spain.
In addition to Yo-Yo Ma, Dr. Pato has collaborated with such artists and groups as Silk Road Ensemble, The Chieftains, Osvaldo Golijov, Aliso Krauss, Hevia, the Galicia Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Pipe Band, the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
She has released four CDs as a solo bagpiper, “Tolemia”, “Xilento”, “Misturador”, and “The Galician Connection”, and two as a collaborative pianist. Dr. Pato has performed as a guest artist on more than 20 recordings and has given more than 400 concerts, many of which have been recorded and televised.
Dr. Pato has premiered works by Osvaldo Golijov, March Zuckerman, Octavio Vazquez, and Montserrat Torras.
A New York City resident since 2004, Dr. Pato holds a doctor of musical art s degree in collaborative piano from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. She holds several master’s degrees from the Conservatorio del Liceu and Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona.