We recently connected with Christina Steele and have shared our conversation below.

Christina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

Being bi-racial and growing up in a place where most people saw only half of my ethnicity was a big lesson in being mischaracterized and misunderstood. It forced me to know who I was at a very young age and present myself fully uncompromised. There were many years when I was the only face of color in the orchestra I performed in and the amount of times I showed up to an audition with instrument in tow and still had to explain I was there to formally audition happened all too often.

Christina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a multi-ethnic musician/creative who has been in a career of performance for over 30 years. While playing my instrument of choice, (violin) started out a hobby and something fun to do after school, it quickly became my first love. Following my musical path has led me towards a plethora of travel opportunities, multiple degrees in higher education, and the ability to work with some of the music industries most talented artists and visionaries. My work days are filled with learning music, providing string sounds for in-studio artists, practicing new musical techniques, staying creative, and performing with the renown Cinematic Rock Band Open2.O

Have you ever had to pivot?

In late 2006 when I was just 22, I found myself homeless and pregnant. My formative years had been spent learning to play violin and I had just earned my BA from a world renown music Conservatory. Just as life was getting started, I felt sidelined. Alone and in a sort of spiritual dead zone, the situation was devastating. There were many steps I had to take and choices I had to make regarding the future of myself and my baby. I decided to press forward without knowing the “how” of the solution and trusted God to bring me to a place I could one day call success. For almost a decade, I put performance out of mind and sight and made the pivot to parenting. During those 10 years, I took jobs doing almost anything including, (but not limited to) teaching, secretarial work, hostessing, and at times even became a stay-at-home mom. Instead of studio sessions, I had piles of baby laundry. Instead of performances, I had a sick kid to tend to. It was a huge learning curve but my faith in a higher power brought me through the darkest of those moments and brought my daughter and I both into a new and beautiful space. Today, that newborn is now 16yo and we’re both thriving!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to bring healing to the masses through the medium of music and sound.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.steelechristina.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steele.strings/
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@o2oband