He was born in Bucharest, at the University of which he completed advanced studies on the violin and viola. 
He participated in numerous master courses and youth music festivals in Romania, Germany, France, and the former Yugoslavia.
After completing his studies, he was first violinist in the National Philharmonic Orchestra, Bucharest, and since 1986 has been viola soloist in the Symphonic Orchestra of the Basque Country at San Sebastian, Spain. 
He won first prize at the Quartet Competition in Colmar, where he became a member of the Pro-Musica National Philharmonic Orchestra Quartet of Bucharest, and also won first prize in the Nicanor Zabaleta Competition as violin soloist. 
Since 1986 he has collaborated with the German composer Alberto Iglesias in recording soundtracks for films by Almodóvar, Medema, and others. He has presented on several occasions this type of music in the Visual Music Festival at Lanzarote, and at the Festival of Film Music in Malaga.
He has collaborated with many symphony orchestras as guest soloist on the viola (Lille, Seville, Bucharest, Bordeaux, Pamplona, Rome). 
He has also given concerts with the Amadeus Quartet and especially the Claret Piano Quartet, which he created with the outstanding Spanish musicians Gerard and Luis Claret, and Maruxa Llorente. With these ensembles he has contributed to many music festivals in Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Asia.
 He has also made numerous recordings for most important record companies in Europe.
Cristian Ifrim has given many performances in recitals and concerts as soloist with various orchestras, as well as master classes to young musicians. 
Since September 2011 he has been Profesor of Violin at the Navarra Music Consevatory in Pamplona.