Dr. Curt Christensen is a 1986 graduate of The Juilliard School where he earned both a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in trumpet performance. He studied with William Vacchiano, Principal Trumpeter of The New York Philharmonic, Mel Broiles, Principal Trumpeter of The Metropolitan Opera, and with Donald Green, Principal Trumpeter of The Los Angeles Philharmonic. He also holds an Associate of Applied Science Degree-Music from the Air University, Community College of the Air Force and completed his Doctor of Musical Arts studies at George Mason University.

Originally from Mount Clemens, Michigan, Mr. Christensen began trumpet studies at age nine with his father, a now-retired elementary school band director. At fourteen, he began performing professionally with the Mount Clemens Symphony Orchestra. The summers of his high school years were spent at the National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan. In 1980 and 1981, at Interlochen, he won the prestigious concerto competition and performed as a featured soloist with the World Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Christensen retired from the United States Air Force Band in 2012 after a twenty-six year career. He is the former Principal Trumpeter of The USAF Concert Band, at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining Concert Band, he was a member of Ceremonial Brass, the official ceremonial unit of The USAF Band, where his duties included the distinctive honor of being a bugler at Arlington National Cemetery. Mr. Christensen enlisted in the Air Force in 1986 and began his career as a cornetist assigned to The Tactical Air Command Band at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia.

Mr. Christensen regularly performed as a soloist with The USAF Band, and other ensembles nationwide, performing a wide variety of the trumpet literature. Some of the notable pieces in his repertoire include The Second Concerto for Trumpet by Andre Jolivet, Excursions by Bruce Broughton, his own arrangements of La Virgen (de la Esperanza) de la Macarena by Bernardino Monterde and the Concerto in E of Johann Nepomuk Hummel, as well as the Sachse Concertino, Oskar Bohme’s Concerto in F-minor, Helsinki Serenade by Mel Broiles and many of the cornet solos composed by Herbert L. Clarke. He also is in demand nationally as a clinician, conducting Master Classes for students from elementary age to seasoned professionals.

Additionally, Mr. Christensen is an active participant in chamber music, often presenting recitals accompanied by organ, piano and brass. He performs the standard trumpet repertoire and adds diversity by expanding the literature with his arrangements of music not usually associated with the trumpet. While in the USAF Band, he was the leader and music director of the Blue 82 Brass, touring the America performing recitals and clinics. He has also been a featured soloist on stage at The Kennedy Center with the Washington National Opera in a variety of solo appearances, most notably the 1997 televised production of Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci.

His performances, especially with The USAF Band, have taken him to all 50 of the United States, Canada, Mexico and to the West Indies, Europe and Asia, performing concerts and ceremonies for civilians, military leaders and international heads of state. He has performed live on television, radio and the Internet, having been broadcast globally. An experienced recording artist, Mr. Christensen has performed on more than fifty U.S. Air Force recordings and has performed on numerous civilian recordings as well.