Altstaedt is also very respected for his inspiring work with young musicians. He made a hugely successful debut with the Australian Youth Orchestra, touring a programme inspired by “the grotesque” featuring Ligeti’s Mysteries of the Macabre and HK Gruber’s Frankenstein. Other significant projects include leading the National Youth Orchestra of Germany’s recording and tour, which included concerts at both Cologne and Berlin Philharmonie halls – the latter of which was recorded for Berlin Philharmonic’s Digital Concert Hall. With the Junge Norddeutsche Philharmonie, Altstaedt led ground-breaking experimental projects #sacrelektro and #etruschka which combined Stravinsky’s symphonic music with live sounds from electronic artists. The success of this innovative concert format resulted in a tour of #etruschka to the Berlin Konzerthaus and the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie. Another notable achievement was with the Junges Klangforum Mitte Europa (2004-2011), an orchestra which Altstaedt founded and directed, whose work won numerous prestigious awards such as the Praemium Imperiale for the arts, and the Marion Dönhoff Prize for International Reconciliation and Understanding.

Christoph Altstaedt teaches regularly orchestral conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and held the visiting professorship in orchestral conducting at the Frankfurt University of the Arts from 2024 to 2026.