Cristina Fontanelli has become a well-known personality through her recordings, her appearances on TV, radio, in concert, nightclubs, and opera, and through her acting debut on network television. Her most recent accomplishment is as PBS Host for Andrea Bocelli's historic free concert in Central Park also starring Celine Dion, David Foster and Tony Bennett. This year, she makes her first appearance at the Italian American Heritage Festival of Iowa.

Ms. Fontanelli was born in Brooklyn, New York of Italian heritage and is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She has also attended the Julliard School in New York.

She is a favorite guest artist with many prestigious orchestras including the Boston Pops and the St. Louis Symphony performing in major concert halls throughout the U.S. and the world, including the Lincoln and Kennedy Centers, the Philadelphia Academy of Music, and major concert halls throughout the Far East and Canada.

Cristina's beautiful soprano voice has taken her to the White House as part of President Clinton's holiday celebration and the Stars and Stripes Inaugural Ball for President George W. Bush.

Many major publications, including The New York Times, have praised Ms. Fontanelli's singing as having "technical ease" and "flaunting bravura", but perhaps this quote taken from a recent review best sums up the artistry of this versatile soprano – she is a "show stopper".

Cristina will perform at 6:30 pm on both nights of this year's festival.