Christopher Brandt serves as director of instrumental activities, assistant professor of music at Morningside University where he conducts the Wind Ensemble, the Pride of Morningside Marching Mustangs and teaches Instrumental Conducting, Music Methods, and Music Education Courses. He is an avid conductor, performer and music educator with over 15 years of experience teaching in public school and collegiate settings. In 2018 he conducted the premier of An Immigrants Story by Marat Sanatullov which received the American Prize, Third Place and in 2017 he was selected as a National Band Association Young Conductor semi-finalist. As an educator his bands consistently earned superior ratings and have been selected to perform at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Conference. Prior to teaching, he served in the 451st Army Band as a saxophonist and associate conductor with conducting appearances throughout the United States. Brandt studied conducting with Carolyn Barber, Peter Eklund, Benjamin Schneider, Aaron McDermid, and Tyler White and saxophone with Benjamin Schneider and Bruce Ammann.

Preceding his appointment at Morningside University, Brandt served as Director of Bands at Graceland University. He also served as Associate conductor of the Jack R. Snider Campus Band and Big Red Express Pep Band, assisted with the 300-plus member Cornhusker Marching Band, led beginning conducting courses, and worked with the symphonic band and wind ensemble at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. From 2006 to 2010, Brandt served as associate conductor of athletic bands and was appointed assistant conductor of fall musicals at the University of Jamestown and in 2016, he founded The Pershing Winds, a semi-professional wind ensemble comprised of musicians from the Lincoln, Nebraska, area. Brandt holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Wind Band Conducting from the University of Nebraska; a Master of Music degree in Conducting from Sam Houston State University; and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education, Performance (saxophone) and Leadership from the University of Jamestown. He currently performs as a member of the Central Iowa Wind Ensemble.