Conversations with Christina Kay Jimenez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Kay Jimenez. 

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Well, where to begin! I am currently a music teacher as well as a professional performer in theater and film. I have always been singing ever since I was little. I started singing in choirs and then began singing solos in school. When I was younger, I had issues expressing my emotions, so it was through music, specifically musical theatre, where I had an outlet for those feelings. I would perform at home, either as Britney Spears in my bathroom or acting out The Phantom of the Opera album as Christine Daee! I decided to pursue music as a profession, so I received a Bachelor of Music in Church Music at Furman University and a Master of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre at The Boston Conservatory. After my education, I started performing in various places, including Boston, Shipshewana, Indiana, and Tampa. I then performed for the German cruise line AIDA where I trained in Hamburg, Germany, and then performed mostly in the Canary Islands. Once I came back to America, I decided to move to New York City, where I was a puppeteer for the New York Aquarium in Coney Island. I was also in an Off-Broadway production and I performed with a choir in Carnegie Hall. When New York City shut down in March of 2020, my husband and I decided to move back to our hometown, which is Tampa. Since being back, I have been a music and private voice teacher with Grosso Music and Fine Arts. I also was in a staged reading performed at Stageworks Theatre called Nothing Like Broadway and I was caroling at Enchant Christmas at Tropicana Field. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the biggest struggles was the decision to leave New York City. Back in March of 2020, I was living in the city for almost 4 years when it shut down. I was out of a job, and my husband and I had to make a tough decision. We couldn’t imagine our lives in New York City anymore, so we moved back to our hometown of Tampa so we could be close to family. Because of the move, I had to let go of my biggest dream, which was to perform on Broadway. I had to accept the fact that sometimes dreams need to shift because of various circumstances that were out of my control, and that I need to adapt to my new surroundings to survive and thrive. That was not easy for me. What I learned was that I had to allow myself to grieve the fact that I won’t be able to fulfill my childhood dream. Through the grieving process, though, I found something new that makes me happy. Since I moved back to Tampa, I reconnected with a friend of mine, Keri Grosso, and now I teach private voice and beginner piano lessons through her studio Grosso Music & Fine Arts. I also teach music at a preschool and elementary school. I still love to perform, though, and I have been able to be in a couple of shows while teaching, which has been great. If I stayed in New York, I would have never realized that I enjoy teaching! 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a musical theatre performer, I am a charming badass with a clever perspective and a calculating wit. Singing-wise, I am a lyric soprano, but I am also a high belter. I can also sing in many singing styles, but I specialize in contemporary musical theatre. For musical theatre fans, I can sing like Elphaba in Wicked or Fantine in Les Misérables. I also have done some film acting as well. You can view some of my work on my website at www.christinakayjimenez.com. I’m also on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @christinakayjimenez. Lately, I have been posting a song every Sunday that I call Serenade Sunday, which is something I’m proud of. I started these because I didn’t want to lose my piano skills and I wanted to accompany myself. I’ve done one song a week for almost a year! 

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My family and friends matter to me. They have been a wonderful support system. There was a period of time where I was struggling with my mental health, and my husband and my family provided me with the loving help and support that I desperately needed. I’m someone who likes to be overly independent to the point where I don’t like reaching out for help for fear of being a burden, which I admit is something I need to work on. But they have been so kind and generous to me, and I will forever be grateful that they are a part of my life. 

Contact Info:

• Email: christinakayjimenez@gmail.com
• Website: www.christinakayjimenez.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/christinakayjimenez
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/christinakayjimenez
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCz6r8yu2m5sl9jf8myh3kGQ
• Other: www.tiktok.com/@christinakayjimenez

Image Credits
Shay Frey Photography
Lauren Eliot Photography