Technical Sgt. C.J. Armbruster is the principal timpanist with the Concert Band, The United States Air Force Band, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. Originally from Ashburn, Virginia, his career in the Air Force began in 2018.

Before joining the Band, Armbruster held the positions of principal timpani with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, acting principal percussion with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, and acting principal timpani with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. He has also performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, and Cayuga Chamber Orchestra.

Armbruster earned a Bachelor of Music degree from The University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music in 2009 where he studied with Allen Otte. He then earned a Master of Music degree in 2011 from The Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with Paul Yancich, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of Maryland in 2019, where he studied with Jauvon Gilliam.