Christensen Family Clarinets
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Don & Cindy (Kelly) Christensen

Don and Cindy (Kelly) Christensen both originally come from Camarillo, California. They studied with Dr. David Randall at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, USA, and both received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Clarinet Performance in 1982. From 1982-84 they studied with Professor Franz Klein at the Cologne Musikhochschule in Germany learning the Oehler System clarinet (German system). During 1982-83 they played a season with the Viennese Operetta.

Since 1983 they have given over 600 recitals of clarinet duos, chamber music, or two solo clarinets with orchestra in many cities and towns of Austria, Germany, Switzerland and the United States. They have recorded with Sachsen Radio, South German Radio and Southwest German Radio as well as recording two compact discs with music for solo clarinet(s) and wind ensemble. (CD Release: Concertos for Clarinets and Military Band. Soloists Don and Cindy Christensen with Radio Wind Orchestra Leipzig. Publ. by Koch International: Order Number 3-1067-2). In 1992 they were featured soloists for two concerts at the International Clarinet Association Clarinet Fest in Cincinnati. Both Don and Cindy were employed at the Friedrichshafen City Music School as clarinet instructors before moving to New York City where they now teach music at Edward R. Murrow High School.

coverCarl Baermann: The School of Romantic Clarinet Playing
Don Christensen has recordedCarl Baermann: The School of Romantic Clarinet Playing with Southwest Radio. (24 duets for clarinet and piano from Carl Baermann's Clarinet Method, Op. 63, 2 CD set, published by Koch International.)

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Michael Christensen

Michael Christensen (born 1980) received his first piano instruction from his mother Cindy at age of 5, winning 2nd Prize at the German Regional Youth Competition two years later. He received piano instruction from Jürgen Jakob at the Friedrichshafen City Music School from 1991-2000. In 1994 and 1996 he won 3rd Prize at the German National Competition Jugend Musiziert. In 1997 he was awarded the coveted 1st Prize in the National Competition in the category of Piano Chamber Music. Michael has been taking clarinet lessons from his parents since 1989. In 1993 he went to the German National Music Competition and received 3rd Prize. In the following years Michael won the coveted National 1st Prize in clarinet on 3 different occasions. As a result of his unprecedented success at both clarinet and piano, the German Foundation for Music has sponsored Michael on concert tours to Norway and Japan. He has given numerous piano recitals throughout southern Germany and Switzerland. Michael now studies piano with Kristin Merscher and clarinet with Eduard Brunner at the Academy of Music and Theater in Saarbrücken.

Michael started playing trio recitals with his parents in 1993 in Germany and Switzerland thus marking the "birth" of the new family ensemble, "trio chalumeaux". In 1995, the trio recorded a CD together. In 1996, they were one of 6 from 74 auditions to be selected for a place on the International Clarinet Association CD Recording Project.

Brian Christensen

Brian Christensen (born 1984) was brought into the family ensemble (Christensen Family Clarinets) in 1995. He has had clarinet instruction from his mother since 1992. In 1999, Michael, Brian and Melissa won 2nd Prize at the National Competition as a clarinet trio.

Melissa Christensen

Melissa Christensen (born 1987) joined the family ensemble playing her first quintet in May 1996. She has had clarinet instruction from her mother since 1994. In 2000, she won 2nd Prize at the National Competition along with a string quartet playing the Mozart Clarinet Quintet.

Miscellaneous Information

The Christensen Family Clarinets concertize regularly in Europe and occasionally in the USA. Some highlights have been: In August 1996, the Christensen Family Clarinets performed at the Conference for Church Music at Brigham Young University. In 1997, they performed in Budapest at EuroCass (European Conference on Clarinet & Saxophone). In October 1998, they gave a concert in the world renowned Musical Instrument Museum in Munich. April 28 and 29, 2001, the family held a clarinet workshop at the music school in Meckenbeuren with the theme: 2 clarinets and more. To conclude the seminar, they gave a concert in St. Jakobus church in Meckenbeuren-Brochenzell.


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