Cristina Bianchi was born in Milan and had her first harp lessons at the age of seven with Luciana Chierici at the Milan City School of Music. She completed her diploma with the highest distinction at the age of 16 and from 1989 to 1995 was principal harpist with the European Community Youth Orchestra and from 1996 to 2001 held the same position at the Genoa Teatro Carlo Felice. 　　From 2001 to 2008 she was principal harpist in the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and in 2007 was appointed professor of harp at the Munich Hochschule for Music and Theatre. 　　She has been a prizewinner in a number of international competitions, including the International Harp Competition in Bloomington, the Prix Lily Laskine in Paris, the International Harp Contest in Israel and the Victor Salvi Competition in Italy. She has served on juries for various international harp competitions.