Glenn Christensen

Glenn Christensen is an Australian classical violinist. He has held positions as Principal First Violin of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (2012–2014), a member of the Australian Chamber Orchestra (2014–2020), and Deputy Concertmaster and Principal Second Violin of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen (2020–2025). In September 2025, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra announced his appointment as its Associate Concertmaster. He is the founder and artistic director of the Mackay Chamber Music Festival and a member of the Lyrebird Trio.

Early life and education Christensen was born and raised in Mackay, a regional city in Queensland, Australia. He first performed with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in 2001 as a child member of Gondwana Voices. He studied with Michele Walsh at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, graduating in 2011 with a Bachelor of Music with first class honours. According to the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, he was the first student to be awarded the Conservatorium Medal, the Music Medal and the University Medal. Christensen participated in Australian Youth Orchestra programs from 2004, playing in the flagship orchestra from 2007 to 2013 and serving as its concertmaster in 2012 and 2013. He also completed a fellowship with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Chamber music Christensen is the violinist of the Lyrebird Trio, a piano trio formed in early 2013 with cellist Simon Cobcroft and pianist Angela Turner, all graduates of the Queensland Conservatorium. In July 2013, the trio won the piano trio prizes at the Asia Pacific Chamber Music Competition, including the Beleura Prize for best piano trio and the Peter Druce Audience Prize. Christensen has performed at festivals including the Musica Viva Festival, Coriole Music Festival, Bangalow Music Festival, Port Fairy Spring Music Festival and Murten Classics.

Awards

2009 – Winner, Kendall National Violin Competition, including the Bach Performance, Australian Composition and Audience Choice prizes and the Timberlay International Travel Scholarship 2012 – Inaugural recipient, Richard Pollett Memorial Award 2013 – Beleura Prize and Peter Druce Audience Prize, Asia Pacific Chamber Music Competition (with the Lyrebird Trio) He was previously an ambassador for the Australian Society for Performing Arts Healthcare.

Instruments During his tenure with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Christensen played a 1936 violin by English maker George Wulme-Hudson. His 2009 Kendall National Violin Competition prize was a concert violin made from Australian timbers by luthier Graham Caldersmith.

Personal life Christensen moved to Germany in 2020, where his partner had been living, and was based in Bremen during his years with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.