FOR INDIANA NATIVE, IT'S A "BIG FAT GREEK CHRISTMAS"

SINGING MEDICAL STUDENT RELEASES ONE OF THE
MOST UNUSUAL CHRISTMAS CD'S IN YEARS

Erie, PA - "Watching 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' was like watching a documentary," says Christina Lucas about the hit comedy film. The Chesterton, Indiana, native grew up with a heavy Greek influence. But now she has decided to turn those quirky experiences into a Christmas CD. She jokes that her CD is sort of like a "musical sequel" to the film. Lucas may be the only medical student in America with her own Christmas CD. She is a second-year medical student at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) in Erie, PA, and vice-president of the OB/GYN Club there. Combining music and medicine may be unusual for most people, but not for Lucas. She believes that both fields help improve people's lives.

The singing doctor-to-be has released "Christmas with Christi," a 14-song album that is a diverse mix of styles and influences including a Greek-inspired version of "Feliz Navidad." There is also a reggae-style version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."

The project came about in serendipitous fashion when Lucas overheard percussionist Harry Honard talking about how he can also play the keyboard at an Erie, PA, diner. Lucas handed him a demo CD from her car. Soon the pair met up with record producer Trevor Huster of Diecaster Studios in Erie. Lucas and Honard were then teamed with pianist Mark Alpaugh for an energetic recording session that produced "Christmas with Christi."

Lucas attended the prestigious Indiana University School of Music and Western Michigan University School of Music. Lucas performed in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji as part of the Gold Company II program from 1997-1999.