Airman First Class (A1C) Christian Lampkin is a flute player with the United States Air Force (USAF) Heritage of America Band. Originally from Denver, Colorado, A1C Lampkin was raised overseas in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates where his father was an Air Force Officer in the Public Affairs Department of the U.S. Embassy. He performs regularly as a flutist and piccoloist with the Concert and Ceremonial Bands and in the Langley Winds woodwind quintet, which tours throughout the eastern seaboard. A1C Lampkin earned two undergraduate degrees in Music Education and Flute Performance from the University of Northern Colorado prior to beginning his career as a music educator in the Colorado Public School system. In Spring of 2022, he was named the first graduate in the history of the University of Iowa to earn two concurrent Master’s degrees in Music Education and Flute Performance. He pursued additional studies through the Curtis Institute of Music’s Mentor Network, earning a certificate in Flute Performance under the tutelage of Sonora Slocum (Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra). His principal teachers also include Brook Ferguson (Colorado Symphony) Nicole Esposito (University of Iowa), and Eric Lamb (Gulda School of Music – Vienna, Austria).
A1C Lampkin has been a prize winner in competitions hosted by The Schubert Club of Minneapolis, Upper Midwest Flute Association, Colorado Flute Association, and Colorado Flute Artists Competition. Chris has made appearances with the Virginia Symphony, Northern Neck Orchestra, Long Bay Symphony, Snow Pond Symphony, and Colour of Music Festival Orchestra. He has been commended for his “terrific style, sound projection, and commanding stage presence” (Sound Espressivo Global Competition) and has been awarded fellowships by organizations including Hot Springs Summer Music Festival, New Millennium Chamber Music Festival, Sphinx Organization, and the United States Air Force Band. His scholarly interests include providing inclusion and belonging to students who identify as LGBTQ+ through private pedagogy and flute repertoire by LGBTQ+ composers from the twentieth century.
A1C Lampkin is in demand as a performer, clinician, and adjudicator for competitions and masterclasses both internationally and nationally. He has served on panels for the Umoja Flute Institute, Upper Midwest Flute Association, Abu Dhabi Flute Society, and National Flute Association. He is proud to be a founding member of the Umoja Flute Institute for flutists of African descent. He currently serves on faculty at Hampton University as the adjunct professor of flute and woodwinds area coordinator.
A1C Lampkin’s most meaningful experiences in the Air Force include performing at the 2024 National Flute Association Convention Gala in San Antonio, Texas with his colleagues in the Band of the West and renowned flutist Ian Clarke, reaching over 2.5K influencers. Additionally, he is grateful for the many opportunities he has had to honor several dignitaries, officers, and sergeants at various promotion/retirement protocol ceremonies.
EDUCATION
2016, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, University of Northern Colorado
2021, Master of Arts in Music Education, Master of Arts in Flute Performance, University of Iowa
2022, Certificate in Flute Performance, Curtis Institute of Music Mentor Network
ASSIGNMENTS
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US Air Force Heritage of America Band, Joint-Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia (December 2023- Present)
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air and Space Training Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
USAF Heritage of America Band Airman of the 2nd Quarter, 2024
USAF Heritage of America Band Airman of the 3rd Quarter, 2024
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class, 30 Nov 2023
(current as of February 2025)