The plethora of arts related opportunities on campus can occasionally blind students to the many skilled artists that live and work nearby. Wallingford itself is rich with individuals who brighten this small town with their artistic talent. One of these individuals is Connecticut native Abi Cristo.
Cristo is a music teacher, church worship leader, and a singer. When asked how long she has been singing for, she joked, “How long have I been singing in general? A very long time.” She continued, “Professionally, I have done it for five years.” That is also how long she has been contributing to her local church, her commitment to which has never wavered, even with the addition of her professional singing responsibilities. Cristo’s relationship with her church has grown such that she is now the leader of the worship team.
Cristo has managed to meld her passions for singing and religion. Instead of reciting the Bible, she uses her singing to touch individuals and unify different cultures. She described how this came to be, saying, “I was doing rounds of different places and different churches. At the time I needed a little help, and there was an opening at Grace Family Church. So I started doing it one Sunday a month. It slowly became my home, and now I am here more often.”
In addition to Cristo’s role at church, she often sings at open-mics and coffee houses. At those venues, she uses music to express herself both as an artist and an individual. She said, “When I play at coffee houses, I usually do my own self-composed music. I think that is more revealing, because it’s an experiment. I get much more scared when I do that.” She added, “There is such a wide range of feelings that I experience when I play music. There is always an element of terror, but once I start, I just enjoy it. There is just an atmosphere that comes when you are doing music and doing what you love.” She explained how it felt to sing for loved ones, saying, “I feel like I am giving them something and they are reciprocating it.”
Abi Cristo finds inspiration in the smallest things. She said, “The day-to-day stuff really inspires me. There is usually just a thought or a phrase that sticks in my head, and I would mull over that. It could be something my husband says or something I see. For me, inspiration comes from everywhere and anywhere.” However, she struggles to find the balance between appealing to the general public and simply playing music that speaks to her. Cristo says, “Whenever I play music to my guitar teacher, I always ask ‘Do you like it?’ He always answers me with ‘Well, do you like it?’” She added, “I think it’s important to know when you are creating for an audience it is going to limit you, but if you create for yourself and what speaks to you, that sincerity really comes through.”
Abi Cristo uses her skills to give back to the Wallingford community. Her talent, passion, and personality magnify her influence on the artistic world.
