Biophilia Records
Charlie Christenson
Singer, Songwriter
Charlie Christenson (vocalist, pianist, songwriter and educator), the current Director of the Graduate Program and Head of the Voice Department at the McNally Smith College of Music (St. Paul, MN), received his Bachelors of Music in Education from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, and his Masters of Music in Performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City.
In 2005, while still at LU, Christenson was recognized by DOWNBEAT Magazine as the Outstanding College Jazz Vocalist. After graduate school, he went on to work and teach at MSM in the Young People’s Division. During this time he also had the opportunity to perform with such greats as the New York Voices, Kurt Elling, and Eliane Elias and up-and-comers Fabian Almazan (Terence Blanchard), Linda Oh (Dave Douglas / Herbie Hancock) and Roy Assaf (Dizzy Gillespie Big Band) in many venues including the Corniela St. Cafe, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the world-famous Birdland.
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He later relocated to Southern California, where Christenson focused on songwriting and teaching, both privately and for Apple Inc. Not long after, he was offered the opportunity to become the Head of the Voice Department at the McNally Smith College of Music, in Saint Paul, MN, where he currently resides.
Fall of 2013, Charlie and his trio (where he writes, sings and plays keyboard) released their first EP, entitled Shipwreckee, on New York based, Biophilia Records. He is an active songwriter, performer, clinician and in the Summer of 2014, in addition to leading the Voice Department at McNally Smith, was named the Director of the Graduate Program.
Christenson grew up listening to Michael Jackson and playing drums in a Led Zeppelin cover band. In college he produced a classic rock radio show and played piano in a salsa band. In New York, he sung with big bands and avant-garde free jazz ensembles, while spending his afternoons walking through Central Park listening to Bon Iver.
In 2005, while still at LU, Christenson was recognized by DOWNBEAT Magazine as the Outstanding College Jazz Vocalist. After graduate school, he went on to work and teach at MSM in the Young People’s Division. During this time he also had the opportunity to perform with such greats as the New York Voices, Kurt Elling, and Eliane Elias and up-and-comers Fabian Almazan (Terence Blanchard), Linda Oh (Dave Douglas / Herbie Hancock) and Roy Assaf (Dizzy Gillespie Big Band) in many venues including the Corniela St. Cafe, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the world-famous Birdland.
IMG_4085.jpg
He later relocated to Southern California, where Christenson focused on songwriting and teaching, both privately and for Apple Inc. Not long after, he was offered the opportunity to become the Head of the Voice Department at the McNally Smith College of Music, in Saint Paul, MN, where he currently resides.
Fall of 2013, Charlie and his trio (where he writes, sings and plays keyboard) released their first EP, entitled Shipwreckee, on New York based, Biophilia Records. He is an active songwriter, performer, clinician and in the Summer of 2014, in addition to leading the Voice Department at McNally Smith, was named the Director of the Graduate Program.
Christenson grew up listening to Michael Jackson and playing drums in a Led Zeppelin cover band. In college he produced a classic rock radio show and played piano in a salsa band. In New York, he sung with big bands and avant-garde free jazz ensembles, while spending his afternoons walking through Central Park listening to Bon Iver.
Recordings
