Christian Pagnard is principal trumpet with the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera.

Before joining the Symphony, he spent 22 years as associate principal trumpet in The United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. Prior to his service in the Air Force, Christian performed as second trumpet with the Springfield Symphony in Springfield, Ohio, as principal trumpet at the Forum Theater in Myrtle Beach, and as second trumpet in the Disney Grammy Collegiate Orchestra at Epcot Center.

He began his musical journey on piano at the young age of 5, followed by a brief period on the violin, before settling on the trumpet in 5th grade.

Christian earned a Bachelor of Arts in Trumpet Performance from Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio, and a Masters of Music in Trumpet Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

His primary teachers were his father, Charles Pagnard, who is the principal trumpet of the Dayton Philharmonic, and Marie Speziale and Alan Siebert of University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.