French pianist Christie Julien has established an international career distinguished by a rare combination of poetic refinement, structural clarity and expressive depth. Her professional trajectory began at an early age with a performance at the Berlin Philharmonic Hall, following her victory at the Steinway Competition for Young Pianists in France.
Julien was awarded the prestigious Yamaha Scholarship and went on to earn First Prizes in Piano and Chamber Music at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, where her musical identity was shaped by the French tradition of tonal color, line and stylistic integrity. Invited by the legendary pianist Leon Fleisher, Julien continued her advanced training at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University.
Julien made her United States solo debut with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, performing Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 3 under the direction of Leonard Slatkin. The Washington Post praised her performance, writing that “Julien’s pianism was imbued with power and abstracted poetry.”
Since then, Julien has appeared as soloist with orchestras throughout the United States, Europe, and Latin America. Her collaborations include conductors such as Leonard Slatkin, Eduardo Marturet, Jed Gaylin, Luis Haza, Richard Weilenmann and Julien Benichou. Equally committed to chamber music, Julien has appeared at major festivals including Santa Fe, La Jolla, Great Lakes and Ravinia.
Julien tours regularly throughout Europe, China, Japan, Israel and the United States, and maintains a strong presence in France, performing annually at Salle Gaveau and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris.
In 2024 Julien produced and performed the innovative program From Baroque to Rock at Carnegie Hall with violinist Alexander Markov, to strong critical acclaim. She returns to Carnegie Hall in 2026 with violinist Alexis Cárdenas for the premiere of a Latin American program.
Since 2007 she has been a member of the Artistic Committee and Pre-selection Jury of the International Marguerite Long–Thibaud Competition.
She is currently involved in the creation of a new music festival in Corsica, dedicated to artistic excellence, cultural dialogue and the transmission of musical heritage.