Kristina Gontsa (Alieva) was born in Krasnoyarsk Krai (Krasnoyarsk Region). In 2012 she graduated from the Krasnoyarsk State Academy of Music and Theatre (class of Vera Baranova). From 2010 to 2012 she took part in the International “Bach Academy in Krasnoyarsk”, directed by Stefan Weiler. Has performed the soprano roles in Cantata BWV 79 and Johannes-Passion. In 2014 the singer completed a postgraduate study with distinction at the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia (St Petersburg; class of Larisa Shevchenko). Currently she is an assistant trainee at the Dmitri Hvorostovsky Siberian State Academy of Arts (Krasnoyarsk).

Has taken part in masterclasses given by such teachers as Tatiana Novichenko, Gabriella Sborgi, Ruben Lisitsian, Henrietta Davis, Carolin Masur, Natalie Dessay, Albina Shagimuratova, Craig Rutenberg.

The singer trained at the Krasnoyarsk State Opera and Ballet Theatre, where she has performed the soprano role in the Russian premiere of African Sanctus by David Fanshawe under the baton of Dmitry Khodosh.

Has worked with such conductors as Wiktor Bockman, Alevtina Ioffe, Maria Eklund, Fabio Mastrangelo, Evgeny Brazhnik, Alim Shakhmametyev, Pavel Smelkov, Paul van Gulick and Mikhail Tatarnikov, Justus Frantz, Emmanuel Villaume, Valery Gergiev.

In the summer of 2013 she made her debut at the Mariinsky Theatre, performing the role of the Flea in the world premiere of Rodion Shchedrin’s opera The Lefthander, which was conducted by Valery Gergiev. In July 2021 the singer joined the Mariinsky Opera Company. She toured with it to Germany and Great Britain.

• Prize-winner at the 4th International B.T. Shtokolov Vocal Competition (St Petersburg, 2014; Grand Prix)

• Prize-winner at the 11th Youth Delphic Games of Russia (Moscow, 2012; Bronze Medal)

• Prize-winner at the 40th All-Russian Review Competition of Graduate Vocalists of Higher Institutes of Music (St Petersburg, 2012)

• Prize-winner at the 5th International Competition of Opera Singers St Petersburg (2011; 3rd prize)

• Prize-winner at the 2nd International Vocalists’ Competition Young Voices (Abakan, 2010; 1st prize, Audience Award, prize for the best performance of a non-Russian aria)

In 2020 she performed the soprano role in the world premiere of the ballet Homage to Maya at the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia (Shchedrin arranged the music by Saint-Saёns expressly for the voice of the singer). Kristina Gontsa actively participates in concerts, performing at the St Petersburg Philharmonia and other venues in the Northern Capital of Russia. In 2023 she sang the soprano role in Lloyd Webber’s Requiem at the Grand Hall of the St Petersburg Philharmonia.