The judges included Sheila Jordon, Joe Williams, Etta Jones, Vanessa Rubin, Dianne Reeves, Dianne Krall, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nneena Freelon. The competition was held at Blues Alley in Washington D.C. then celebrated at the Watergate Hotel. The first prize and second prize recipient awarding money and recording contracts with major label's Verve and Blue Note and others and meeting the vice president Al Gore the next day. The excellent opportunity for all participants, ten Americans an Italian jazz student Roberta Gamborini and Christine Sullivan to meet and explore possibility's for their futures in music industry and American jazz scene in particular. Roberta Gamborini was at the time living and studying jazz vocal in Boston and this was a wonderful opportunity for her. Here Christine met the arranger/producer musical director Don Sickler and Shelby Fischer executive producer of the Thelonious Monk Jazz Institutes Vocal Competition.
That year the triumphant deserving winner was the late Terri Thornton a luminous 65-year-old jazz vocalist, and the runner up was the then 19 year old Jayne Monheit, whose trio was based in New York, is now touring and recording successfully. Also, that year Christine befriended fellow competitor Tierney Sutton also now touring and recording with her supportive trio.
Christine's recordings began in 1990 with "Its about Time" on an Independent label Larrikin. Live at Mietta's with Friends, "Here and Now", "Bloom" and most recently the cd “Away” featuring tracks from the "Murdunna" project for Arts Victoria. Guitar tracks from Craig Ross Engineer and Guitarist for Patty Griffin, and a track of Joni Mitchells “River” recorded with marvellous pianist Andy Milne of The Dapp Theory from New York. Christine has been a recipient for many supporting grants from the Australia Council and Arts Victoria, and has recorded as guest or backing vocal on no less than 30 albums and live recordings. One memorable Recording for Mal Stanelys Jazz Track for The ABC with New York Pianist Andy Milne in live performance.
She was invited to perform for the Victorian College of the Arts Jazz Improvisers Concert 2000 at the Concert Hall. The Boite World Music Café Concert at the Hamer Hall. Christine conducted workshops and master classes with graduates and students of V.C.A. and Adelaide Conservatorium and was invited by The Brisbane Conservatorium to perform with the jazz orchestra under the direction of American trumpeter arranger composer John Hoffman.
Her latest work involves recording 15 original Jazz tracks never before recorded with Don Sickler at Rudy Van Gelders Studio in New York in 2013 and 14 recording with Rudy Van Gelder as the engineer. Christine was one of the last singers to record with the legendary Blue Note Engineer. Christine met the brilliant Ran Blake now Emeritus Professor of the New England Conservatory in Boston and Kirk Nurock pianist, prolific lyricist, composer and Lecturer at the New York New School of Music. Through Don Sickler she met many great singers and composers from New York, and recorded a Youtube tutorial in support of Jazz Singer Judy Niemack for the release of her educational book for vocalists, Hear it and Sing It. Christine took two private Master classes with the singer in New York. Christine continues her passion for the voice, with song writing, piano studies, private tutoring and mentoring and the development of ideas for the release of an educational and inspiring manual for singers, a work in progress. She has recorded recently as a guest while in Australia with Melbourne based pianist Gordon Harvey for his new release Aquiline.
Christine wants to inspire the next generations of singers and encourage singers of all ages with an inspirational singers manual. Christine will continue to teach and mentor. Christine is open to recording and some performance and would aspire to co-write creative soundscapes suitable for film or documentary. She also paints and enjoys photography as sideline. She currently spends her time between Brooklyn and her base in Australia.