Christian began studying music 25 years ago as a sixth grade band student in a suburb of Dallas, TX. After three years in public school music programs, he auditioned and was accepted into the highly selective Dallas Performing Arts High School which produced such musical luminaries as Norah Jones, Erykah Badu, Roy Hargrove, and Edie Brickell. While at the Dallas Performing Arts High School he was honored with numerous awards including the Texas All-State Jazz Band, and was the winner of Downbeat Magazine's Best High School Jazz Instrumental Soloist competition for two consecutive years. After high school, Christian moved to New York City on a full tuition scholarship to The New School for Social Research, where he studied Jazz Improvisation with Reggie Workman (bass player with John Coltrane and Joe Henderson), George Garzone, Billy Harper, and Chico Hamilton. For the following 10 years, Christian could be found playing music five to six nights a week at numerous venues throughout the New York City Metropolitan area. Late in 2009, Christian moved back to Texas to complete his college education, and in May of 2013 he graduated Summa Cum Lade with a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Texas Arlington. Christian has now been appointed with a Graduate Teaching Fellowship from The University of Oregon where he will be teaching Undergraduate courses in Jazz Improvisation, and will be pursuing his Master of Music degree.