Christian Stene

Christian Stene, one of the Nordic countries’ leading clarinetists, is an Associate Professor of Clarinet at the Grieg Academy in Bergen. He serves as Norway's Chairperson for the International Clarinet Association and is a Buffet Crampon and Vandoren artist. Christian was previously the principal clarinetist of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra (2010-2022) and the Norwegian National Opera Orchestra (2007-2010). As a researcher, Christian explores how the affordances of modern musical instruments influence phrasing.

His artistic research project “(Re)Phrasing—Shaping Music with Modern Instruments” expands on the phrasing challenges modern instrumentalists face. Christian has given masterclasses on six continents at key music institutions in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Estonia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Hungary, Slovakia, Portugal, Spain, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, and the United States.

As an award-winning soloist, he regularly appears as guest principal clarinetist with various orchestras across the Nordic countries, Europe, Asia, and Australia, including the Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. His recordings are available as a soloist on LAWO, as a chamber musician on Classico and LAWO, and in orchestra on Naïve, Chandos, BIS, Hyperion, Ondine, Aurora, and LAWO.

For more information and sound samples, please visit: www.christianstene.com