“… by turns emphatic, fragile, bold, tender and wild…” – Gramophone Magazine.
Christina Sandsengen is a internationally recognized Norwegian classical guitar artist known for her expressive artistry and technical mastery. With performances in prestigious concert halls and festivals across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, she has captivated audiences with her evocative artistry and emotional depth. Her recordings have received widespread critical acclaim, with Gramophone Magazine praising her “masterly sense of tonal and rhythmic hierarchy,” and the GB Times declaring her as “showcasing a rare virtuosity and astoundingly multi-faceted talent.”
Born in 1987, Christina began her musical journey with the piano at the age of seven, transitioning to classical guitar at age fithteen. She studied under renowned teachers and mentors, including Martin Haug, Erik Stenstadvold, Gérard Abiton and Leo Brouwer, and further honed her craft through masterclasses with esteemed guitarists like Eliot Fisk, Aniello Desiderio, and Fabio Zanon. Her education included studies at the Norwegian Academy of Music and the Conservatorio Superior de Música ‘Manuel Castillo’ in Sevilla, Spain.
In the fall of 2014, she released her debut album, Shades & Contrasts, on Odradek Records, which received widespread critical acclaim. The Independent described it as a “debut collection showcasing skill and no small virtuosity,” while Crescendo wrote that she “…demonstrates brilliantly and with crystal clarity where things are headed for her: to enthuse a young and broader audience with the ‘most popular instrument in the world.’’ Her music has been featured on numerous international radio and TV programs, including the BBC and CNN.
Christina’s dedication to classical guitar extends beyond performance. She founded Oslo Gitarskole where she hosted masterclasses and concerts with international artists such as Xuefei Yang and Carlo Domeniconi. She has also served on the boards of the Classical Guitar Association of Norway and the Norwegian Guitar Festival, contributing significantly to the development of the classical guitar community.
Following the release of Shades & Contrasts, Christina made a music video for ‘Preludio Saudade’ from La Catedral by Agustín Barrios Mangoré. She recorded ‘Clair de Lune’ by Claude Debussy in the legendary EastWest Studios in Los Angeles and released the single later that year. Her interpretations of these works have been praised for her sensitivity and deep understanding of their emotional and musical character.
Christina is featured on the death metal band Allegaeon’s album Apoptosis, where she duets with guitarist Greg Burgess on ‘Colors of the Currents’ and their bonus track, ‘Concerto in Dm (BWV 1052)’ by J.S. Bach. The renowned composer and guitarist Marius Noss Gundersen dedicated his suite Seasons to Christina, and she recorded it for his album Solo Guitar Works, released in 2020. The album also features four other of Norway’s leading classical guitarists performing Gundersen’s music.
In honor of the 40th anniversary of the passing of guitar hero Randy Rhoads, Christina released her arrangement of Rhoads’ ‘Dee,’. Her version has received great reviews, with Music Radar Magazine stating, “Sandsengen makes Rhoads’ difficult changes look all too easy, and those harmonics really pop,” while Louder / Classic Rock Magazine declared, “This classical guitarist’s beautiful cover of Randy Rhoads’ ‘Dee’ is giving us chills.” Metal Injection also praised her arrangement, calling it beautiful.
Her 2022 album Solace (on Naxos Records) marked her debut as a composer, showcasing her ability to create deeply personal and emotionally resonant music.
In 2024, she released her piece Dråper, where she performed with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, further solidifying her reputation as both a performer and composer.
Christina Sandsengen’s latest album, Tombeaux, was released on February 7, 2025. Recorded in the haunting acoustics of Emanuel Vigeland’s mausoleum, the album is a deeply personal tribute to her late loved ones, blending evocative compositions with the unique resonance of the space.
Christina Sandsengen plays a portrait guitar by Stephan Connor, and as an ambassador for GramArt and a voting member of The Recording Academy (The Grammy Awards®), Christina continues to shape the future of classical music.