Christian Geldsetzer was born in Kirchen, Germany in 1966 (the year England won the football world cup). He received his first double bass lessons aged 10 from his father, before studying with Prof. Paul Breuer (Cologne), Prof. Rolf Ranke (Berlin), Prof. Rolf Heister (Essen) and Prof. Duncan McTier (London).

Before turning 18 Christian had already won 1st prize in the German Young Musicians' Competition 'Jugend musiziert' three times on national level - and auditioned for the European Community Youth Orchestra (ECYO, today EUYO) where he was chosen to be Principal Bass for Claudio Abbado and Leonard Bernstein. Whilst still a student, Christian started working regularly with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Frankfurt Opera and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra where he was eventually awarded with a one year contract as sub-principal bass.

In 1994 he became a member of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, before joining the Philharmonia Orchestra in 1997 where he was appointed into his current position (No. 2 double bass) in 2008.

As guest Principal Bass, Christian has appeared with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie under Michail Pletnev, with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra several times at the Opera Festival in Aix-en-Provence and on tour, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden.

A passionate chamber musician, Christian and his siblings are co-founders of the Gutenberg-Ensemble with members of the Berlin Philharmonic, Berlin State Opera and Duisburg Philharmonic orchestras.

He has appeared at major chamber music festivals such as Salzburg (with members of the Berlin Philharmonic and Cleveland Orchestras in the 'Trout Quintet'), Hitzacker with members of the Auryn Quartet, Hambacher Musikfest with the Mandelring Quartet, the Aldeburgh Festival with Birmingham Contemporary Music Group with Thomas Ades and Sir Simon Rattle, and at the 'Graben Festival' in Vienna. Christian has also performed with Victoria Mullova and her ensemble, the Faure- and Bingham Quartets, the Soloists of the Philharmonia and at the Philharmonia's own MOT series.

As soloist Christian has appeared with the Kammerphilharmonie Berlin on CD and German Radio (both live concert recordings), also with Capella Classica and the Rheinland-Pfalz State Youth Orchestra.