SSgt Eric Lundquist is a Jazz Trumpet player and Operations Representative with the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Originally from Mountlake Terrace, WA, his Air Force career began in 2025 after serving nearly 11 years in US Army Bands. He performs with the Shades of Blue Jazz Band, Starlifter, Concert Band, and Ceremonial Band.
SSgt Lundquist’s jazz career first took shape in Mountlake Terrace High School’s Jazz Ensemble 1, which worked closely with professional jazz artists and participated in many local and international festivals, including the Vienne Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, and as a finalist the 13th annual Essentially Ellington Festival and Competition in 2008. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA in 2012. He has been a freelance jazz trumpet player ever since.
Sergeant Lundquist enlisted in the US Army as a Musician (42R) in 2014 and was assigned to Oklahoma, Korea, Belgium, and Washington, performing for military and civilian audiences in those areas as well as Texas, Alaska, France, Germany, Turkey, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Lithuania, and Thailand. During his Army career, he performed as a Trumpet Player in jazz big bands, jazz combos, rock bands, brass quintets, New Orleans-style brass bands, marching/ceremonial band, and concert band. His additional duties in the Army included Drum Major, Training Room Noncommissioned Officer, Unit Public Affairs Representative, Photo and Video Editor, photographer, and Supply Clerk. In 2020, he was a recipient of the Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award. Through his music career, he has shared the stage with Carl Saunders, Scott Whitfield, Allen Vizzutti, David Lee Joyner, Jens Lindeman, Morris Northcutt, David Marriott, Don Immel, Mike Lewis, and Jay Thomas.
EDUCATION:
2012 Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA
2014 Army Basic Music Course, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, VA
2016 Army Basic Leaders Course, Fort Sill, OK
2023 Army Advanced Leaders Course, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, VA
ASSIGNMENTS:
August 2014 – February 2018, 77th Army Band, Fort Sill, OK
March 2018 – August 2019, Eighth Army Band, Camp Humphreys, Korea
September 2019 – October 2022, SHAPE International Band, SHAPE, Belgium
October 2022 – February 2025, America’s I Corps Band, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA
June 2025 – Present, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, IL
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award 2020
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Achievement Award with four Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Good Conduct Medal with three Knots
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Overseas Service Ribbon, second award
Army Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, second award
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Rifle)
Air and Space Training Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, Silver
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Specialist (US Army) – 24 March 2014
Corporal (US Army) – 01 July 2016
Sergeant (US Army) – 01 September 2021
Staff Sergeant (US Air Force) – 27 May 2025
(Current as of September 2025)