Michael Christie returns for his third year as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director of The Phoenix Symphony with the 2007-08 season. In additon, he continues his role during the summers as music director of the Colorado Music Festival in Boulder, a position he has held since 2000. He also serves as the Music Director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic. He served as chief conductor of the Queensland Orchestra in Australia from 2001-04, and continues to serve as Principal Guest Conductor for that orchestra this season.

Mr. Christie has guest conducted many leading orchestras in Europe including the City of Birmingham Symphony, Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and the Swedish Radio Symphony. From 1996-98, he was associate conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic, and he has worked with all the major Finnish orchestras. In North America, Mr. Christie has conducted the symphony orchestras of Atlanta, Dallas, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Minnesota, St. Louis, and Vancouver, among many others. Recent  performances include return engagements with many of these orchestras as well as the Luxembourg Philharmonic and Czech Philharmonic.

Mr. Christie first came to international attention in 1995 when he was awarded a special prize at the First International Sibelius Conductor's Competition in Helsinki at age 21. Following the competition, he became an apprentice conductor with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and subsequently worked with Daniel Barenboim, conducting both in Chicago and at the Berlin State Opera.

Michael Christie graduated from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music with a bachelor's degree in trumpet performance. His conducting teachers have included Peter Jaffe, Eiji Oue and Robert Spano.

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Press Quotes about Michael Christie
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Colorado Music Festival
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Michael Christie Images for Media Use
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For additional information, please contact The Phoenix Symphony at 602-495-1117, ext. 314.