Christopher Hernacki is currently a student at the University of Michigan where he studies under Professor David Jackson as an undergraduate trombone performance major.

His “calling” to music started at a young age. Playing trumpet in 6^th grade band Christopher found his true passion was low brass. In 7^th grade he switched to euphonium and began immediately taking State and District honors. He was principal euphonium in the Inaugural 2003 All-State Jr. High Honor Band. He has been principal euphonium for both California All-State Honor Bands (Wind Symphony-the top ensemble) and the SCSBOA All-Southern Honor Bands since a freshman in high school. In 2006, he was principal tuba in the SCSBOA All-Southern Honor Orchestra. For the last two years of high school he played bass trombone in the SCSBOA Honor Jazz All-Star Jazz Ensembles and was awarded “Outstanding Soloist” at many jazz festivals including the Reno Jazz Festival.  In 2006, Christopher was 1 of 11 trombonists picked internationally to study at Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute Trombone Master Class with Don Lucas and participated in a master class with William Jones, principal euphonium player with the United States Air Force Concert Band. He also was a member of the 2006 Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra touring jazz festivals in Croatia and Italy and then performing at the 2006 Monterey Jazz Festival in September of that year. During his senior year, Christopher was selected as a member of the 2007 Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Ensemble on bass trombone as well as the Jazz Band of America, also on bass trombone.

In the 2007 William S. Hart District Honor Band, he was honored with the prestigious R. K. Downs Memorial Scholarship award for most outstanding musician.  That summer Christopher went on to tour Germany, Austria, and Hungary with the Los Angeles Pierce Symphonic Winds and was a featured soloist on two of their performances.

Christopher is already playing professionally in the Los Angles and Detroit areas with such names as the Grammy nominated Buddy Collette Big Band, Doug MacDonald Winds and Brass Coalition, Pat Longo Big Band, the LA Trombones, and many others. Christopher has also performed with several orchestral ensembles including the Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Civic Orchestra, and the highly acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He is a founding member of the Westminster Brass Quintet and a standing member of the Grace Baptist Praise Symphony Orchestra. Christopher spends his summers at the Idyllwild Summer Arts Academy where he feels his passion for music began. He feels has had the opportunity to learn from some of the best. Jazz America, a mentorship program started by the great Buddy Collette and mentored by Richard Simon and Roger Newman has had a great influence on Christopher and his love for jazz. He credits his musical journey to his amazing teachers – Les Benedict, Scott Sutherland, Bill Reichenbach, and David Jackson – and his family for all their love and support so he may continue his pursuit of music.