1. Luke Allen Christiansen
BMus Perf (NICAI) Hons (NZSM) MMus Hons Perf (NICAI) NZDipBus
2/338 Mt Albert Road
Mt Roskill
Auckland 1041
trombonastics@hotmail.com
Career Statement:
A qualified, experienced and driven young professional seeks to make a difference in
dynamic organisations that aren’t afraid to innovate! He aims to apply significant leadership,
management, coordination, strategic planning and communication skills gained while
working in both the NZ music events and corporate advisory [operations] industry to any
challenge that he pursues. Proactive, energetic, self-motivated and with a keen eye for
detail, success and achievement are key foundational aspects that underpin his working
character and general approach to life.
Career History:
 Operations Support
Coordinator
Grant Thornton New Zealand
Ltd.
2014 – present
Responsible for coordinating operations of the Grant Thornton Auckland Operational
Advisory team, consisting of 12 core staff members and 10 – 15 external associate
contractors, with projects ranging from procurement, process improvement, change
management, supply chain strategy, strategic planning and manufacturing/organisational
efficiency reviews. Significant changes were championed in this role, including the
facilitation of an ‘OA merger’ between the two core yet previously separate business
functions and the roll-out of a new nation-wide practice management system, which had
significant effects on the day-to-day operations of the unit. I am currently one of 10
appointed nation-wide ‘Super-Users’ of this system and am leading billing coordination
initiatives across three service lines (30+ staff) within Grant Thornton New Zealand.
 Orchestra Manager Manukau Symphony
Orchestra
2013 – 2014
Responsible for managing all aspects of the artistic entity with significant cross-over into the
running and managing of the business, financial, strategic and general organisational aspects
of the MSO organisation. Successes include managing the organisation throughout a period
of intense change and rebirth early in 2014 and successfully spearheading MSO’s 2014
strategic initiatives in their five year framework.
 Artistic Coordinator Manukau Symphony
Orchestra
2012 - 2013
Newly created position within the Manukau Symphony Orchestra management involving the
management, coordination and production of events and concerts. This includes the booking
of musicians, soloists, and guest artists etc., along with programming, concert logistics,
programme management and operations on an events basis. This position also covers the
education and scholarship programmes the orchestra has initiated. Other key functions
included rostering and scheduling, player care and management, facility and venue
administration, statistical reporting administration and Health and Safety management.

2.  Section Leader Manukau Symphony
Orchestra
2009 - present
Appointed low brass section leader in 2009 after spending time playing second trombone in
the section. Managing the section’s rehearsal schedule and artistic delivery of works ranging
from Beethoven and Faure to Lilburn, Strauss and Mahler. Key involvement in premiering
commissioned works for the orchestra, through both administrative skills and artistic
leadership within the section and orchestra management.
 Freelance Musician  Auckland
Philharmonia
 Vector Wellington
Orchestra
 Christchurch
Symphony Orchestra
 RNZAF Bands
2005 - present
Freelance trombonist with many of the country’s top-level ensembles, whilst completing
formal qualifications in both Auckland and Wellington. Performing within and leading
sections in varied programmes/artistic genres over a wide range of respected artistic
organisations across the country has given me invaluable knowledge of the NZ arts scene.
Recent Major Awards:
 2014 New Zealand Open Trombone Champion (BBANZ).
 2013 UNITEC/Rosebank Business Association Best Overall Achievement Award.
 2010 ADASTRA recipient.
 2009 Kathleen Mary Reardon Music Scholarship Recipient, University of Auckland.
 University of Auckland Cultural Blue Awards 2005, 2006, and 2007.
 2011 National Grand Finalist (menswear winner) Mercedes Prix de Fashion,
Auckland Cup Week.
 2010 Cathay Pacific Men’s Racewear winner – Ellerslie Racecourse.
Leadership/Team Involvement:
Working within both a top-level corporate professional services firm along with recognised
artistic entities throughout New Zealand has allowed me to develop crucial interpersonal
relationship skills, along with an in-depth understanding of the importance of team work
and collaboration in a professional context. In my experience as a leader within these
various organisations I have been responsible for identifying and achieving key goals and
objectives, running and managing a group given a set deadline and performance brief and
liaising with management with regard to set objectives in order to uniformly reach an
[artistically] agreeable outcome. Limited timeframes were often involved requiring accurate
planning, time management and most importantly efficient and effective communication in
order to realize appropriate target goals and objectives within the context of a tight-knit and
high-performance team.

3. Developed Strengths:
 Strategic & Operational: Understanding desired outcomes, goals and objectives, developing
strategies and working at both strategic and operational levels to implement and achieve
outstanding results, undertaking a hands-on approach wherever and whenever required.
 Excellent Interpersonal Skills: Highly effective in managing people and developing key
relationships through effective communication and negotiation, with strengths stemming from
work in community and NFP organisations.
 Positive and Effective Leader: Proven ability in developing ‘on-board-ness’ in projects,
particularly within community-based arts organisations.
 Event Planning and Management: Producing and managing events with particular strengths in
personnel management, event operations/logistics, production management, creative direction
and promotional/marketing material.
 Financial Oversight: Ability to understand and work with project financial to ensure projects
remain on track financially. This also includes budgeting and fundraising experience.
 Creative Vision: Strong creative vision to support technical/operational aspects of event
management.
Qualifications:
 NZ Diploma in UNITEC 2012 - 2013
Business –
Management
 Masters Music
Performance
University of Auckland,
National Institute of Creative
Arts and Industries
2009
 BMus Honours Victoria University,
New Zealand School of Music
2008
 Bachelor of Music University of Auckland,
National Institute of Creative
Arts and Industries
2005 - 2007
Community Involvement:
Musical Director and committee member with Howick Brass. I am heavily involved
with the running of this community organisation which includes day-to-day running
of the band, community event management, creative direction, commissioning of
new works and the training of new members interested in joining.
Personal Interests:
 Property
Whilst fervently against speculation and preferring longer-term relationships and
returns, I own and manage a small number of rental properties in the Bay of Plenty and
Wairarapa.
 Classic (British) cars:
Owned, restored and refurbished a number of vehicles from my favourite marques. I am
an active MG Car Club member, and am currently restoring NZ’s oldest MGB.
References:
A full list of referees and references are available on request