Christian Behrens, hailing from Iowa, currently plays bass trombone
with Opera Cleveland. He started his graduate studies this fall at
the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He studies with John Engelkes,
bass trombonist of the San Francisco Symphony.
As you might expect, Christian spends a lot of time playing in various ensembles at SFCM, as well as Horns a Plenty. In 2006, he was the first alternate to the finalists of the International Trombone Association's Gilberto Gagliardi/Weril Competition.
Over the past two years Christian has been performing in master classes with John Rojak. His past teachers have included his late father, William Behrens; James DeSano, former principle trombonist of the Cleveland Orchestra; and Thomas Klaber, bass trombonist of the Cleveland Orchestra. While still in Iowa, Christian took over his father's brass chamber group, the Cedar Valley Brass. They performed all over eastern Iowa.
In his spare time, Christian likes to coach and participate in competitive swimming, along with camping and fishing. Christian received his Bachelor of Music in bass trombone performance studying with James Desano from Oberlin College.