Christiana M. Perai was born in Graz, Austria.

Her teachers and major influences have been Walter Kamper, Eugen Jakab, David Burge, Jürgen Uhde, and Alexander Satz. Since 1981, she has taught piano at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (KUG). She is a sought-after contemporary music chamber musician and soloist and has performed with the Austrian Art Ensemble in performances throughout the world.