Flutist Christian Lampkin is widely commended for his "terrific style, sound projection, and commanding stage presence" (Sound Espressivo Global Competition). In the fall of 2024, he joined the faculty at Hampton University as Adjunct Professor of Flute and Coordinator of Woodwinds. Previously, he held faculty appointments at South Carolina State University and Claflin University. Additionally, Chris performs as a flutist and piccoloist with the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band and the Langley Winds Woodwind Quintet, which tours the eastern seaboard performing for dignitaries and honors from around the world. Notable performances have taken him to the National Gallery of Art and the Library of Congress Coolidge Auditorium.
He has also performed with esteemed ensembles including the Virginia Symphony, Northern Neck Orchestra, Long Bay Symphony, Rock Hill Symphony, Colour of Music Festival, Snow Pond Symphony, and the National LGBTQ+ Flute Choir. In 2025, he and his HBCU colleagues gave the first-ever recital performance by HBCUs at the National Flute Association’s convention in Atlanta, GA. Lampkin has earned recognition in numerous competitions, including those hosted by The Schubert Club of Minneapolis, the Upper Midwest Flute Association, the Colorado Flute Association, the Pratt Green Trust, and the Colorado Flute Artists Competition.
Chris has received fellowships from prestigious organizations, including the Curtis Institute of Music Mentor Network Program, Hot Springs Summer Music Festival, New Millennium Chamber Music Festival, and the United States Air Force Band. His scholarly interests focus on fostering inclusion and belonging for LGBTQ+ students through private pedagogy and flute repertoire by LGBTQ+ composers from the 20th century. He has taught masterclasses and clinics at renowned institutions, such as the University of Virginia, North Carolina School of the Arts, SUNY Potsdam, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Ithaca College, Syracuse University Setnor School of Music, Kansas State University, and the University of the Pacific Conservatory.
A sought-after performer, clinician, adjudicator, and flute ensemble conductor, Chris is in demand both nationally and internationally. He has served on several panels and boards, including those for the Abu Dhabi Flute Society, Upper Midwest Flute Association, and National Flute Association, where he contributed to the Career and Artistic Development Committee. As a musical activist, Chris is proud to be a founding member of the Umoja Flute Institute and the Melanin Rhapsody Flute Choir, both of which provide fostering opportunities for flutists of color.
He is also a pioneer in cultivating compositions for solo flute and flute ensembles, having initiated over 15 world premieres since 2020 by composers such as Frank Ticheli, Allison Loggins-Hull, Kei Slaughter, Gay Kohkonen, Zachery Meier, and Matt Mason.
His principal teachers include Nicole Esposito, Eric Lamb, Sonora Slocum, and Brook Ferguson. He has also been mentored by Marina Piccinini, Dr. Virginia Broffitt-Kunzer, and Megan Ensor.