Joan Christenson, violin, holds bachelor and master of music degrees from the University of Cincinnati and the University of Michigan and served as Associate Concertmaster of the Shreveport Symphony before joining the first violin section of the San Antonio Symphony in 1983. She has performed with many summer music festivals of distinction including: the Aspen Music Festival, the Tanglewood Festival, the Santa Fe Opera, and the Grand Teton Music Festival.
Since assuming the directorship of Musical Offerings in 1989, Ms. Christenson has collaborated with musicians from many avenues of professional life in San Antonio and has presented many unique concert formats like the highly-acclaimed series, Jazz Meets Classical, now in its 23rd season. Joan has also presented 30 years of gallery concerts in conjunction with the San Antonio Museum of Art. In 2004 Joan was named a winner of the Arts and Letters Award presented by the Friends of the Public Library for her contributions to the cultural life of San Antonio.