Showing promise from an early age, but not paraded as a child prodigy, Christian Altenburger gave his first public violin performance at age 7 after having studied with his father. More formal training came from Ernst Morawec at the Vienna Academy of Music, from which he graduated when he was 16. Altenburger made his official professional debut three years later in a recital at the Vienna Musikverein, but continued his education at the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied with the grande dame of violin teaching, Dorothy DeLay. Upon graduating in 1978, Altenburger embarked on a busy career performing concertos and chamber music in recitals throughout Europe and North America. He frequently performs with major orchestras, but tends to record for ultra-budget CD labels. He is also professor of violin at the Hanover conservatory.