Biography

Christopher A. Heldt, D.M.A.     

Dr. Christopher A. Heldt resides in Fort Worth, Texas, where he is a freelance musician and brass teacher. Heldt is an adjunct music instructor at Dallas College and Ranger College. He teaches a small independent trumpet studio and has taught trumpet in several Dallas-Fort Worth area school districts. He has previously served on the music faculty at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and the MediaTech Institute of Dallas. Heldt also publishes interviews and reviews in the International Trumpet Guild Journal.

Heldt has performed across the United States, Canada, and Europe as a trumpeter. Some notable venues include the Gewandhaus, Rudolfinum, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Meyerson Symphony Center, Bass Performance Hall, and Long Center for the Performing Arts. Heldt has previously been a member of the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra, Austin Civic Orchestra, and Athens Master Chorale Orchestra. He has also performed with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, Fargo-Moorhead Opera, Jazz Arts Big Band of Fargo-Moorhead, McKinney Philharmonic, Dallas Brass Band, New Columbian Brass Band, Mannheim Steamroller, and Michael W. Smith.

Heldt has performed at the National Trumpet Competition as a soloist and ensemble member. He was an ensemble finalist with the University of Texas Trumpet Ensemble (2010) and the University of Georgia Trumpet Ensemble (2014). He has also been a scholarship recipient or ensemble performer at several International Trumpet Guild Conferences.

Heldt has been a featured soloist with the North Dakota State University Wind Symphony, North Dakota State University Orchestra, Balcones Community Orchestra, Athens Master Chorale, and University of Georgia Wind Ensemble. He has been a chamber soloist with the Austin Symphonic Band, University of Texas Wind Ensemble, and University of Georgia Wind Ensemble. 

Heldt holds music degrees from North Dakota State University (B.M.), the University of Texas at Austin (M.M.), and the University of Georgia (D.M.A.).  His primary teachers have been Richard Giangiulio, Dr. Neil Mueller, Ray Sasaki, and Philip Smith.