Christopher Brandenburg Biography

Christopher Brandenburg taught instrumental music in the Lakota district for 35 years prior to retiring.  In that time, he was the Lakota High School director of bands, the Hopewell Junior School director of bands, and the freshman school director of bands.  He also served as the Lakota District Instrumental Music Coordinator for 5 years.  The students Mr. Brandenburg taught consistently received superior ratings and other awards at the district and state level in small ensemble, concert band, and marching band competition.

A John Phillip Sousa Award winner and graduate of Princeton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Brandenburg attended Ohio University and received a bachelor of fine arts degree with a major in music education.  He was awarded a master of music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a performance major in orchestral instruments.

For 25 years, Mr. Brandenburg’s has directed the Southwestern Ohio Symphonic Band, a Miami University band comprised of amateur, professional and semi-professional musicians, college music students, and advanced high school players that want to perform advanced band literature.  The band is a true “community band” with members from the Cincinnati, Hamilton, Middletown, and Dayton areas.  The band’s mission is to give these adult players a musical outlet and perform literature of a high level.  

Mr. Brandenburg is in demand as an adjudicator for concert band, marching band, solo and ensemble, and scholarship competitions.   He has been a clinician, guest conductor, and chaired several OMEA events.  His professional associations include the Ohio Music Association as past district president, the Music Educators National Conference, the American School Band Directors Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Beta Mu, and the Central State Judges Association.

Mr. Brandenburg has performed as a soloist with the Ohio University Orchestra and Symphonic Band, the Middletown Symphony Orchestra, the Southwestern Ohio Symphonic Band, the Hopewell Junior School OMEA Convention Band, the District XIII Honor Jazz Band, and with Lakota West Symphonic Winds at the 54th Annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic.

Mr. Brandenburg lives in West Chester with his wife, Dawn, the retired senior counselor at Lakota East High School.  Their daughter, Erica, is an art educator in the Columbus school system.   Their son, Matt, is a personal banker at Provident Bank in Cincinnati.