Meet the Music Director
Meet the Musicians
Meet the Artistic Advisor
Charles Latshaw
Instrument: Conductor
A vibrant and versatile young artist, Charles Latshaw was named by the Vienna Philharmonic as 2007 Herbert von Karajan Conducting Fellow, and was Conducting Fellow with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra until 2008. He is Music Director of the Bloomington (Indiana) Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Conductor of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic , and also serves as Music Director of the Columbus Philharmonic Youth Orchestras. Latshaw was selected to compete in the Cadaques International Conducting Competition in June 2008. He made his debut with the Indianapolis Symphony in March 2008, and the 2008-2009 season will also bring guest-conducting appearances in several cities across the United States.
Latshaw’s career in music began in the field of education. After graduating summa cum laude from the Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, he taught band, choir, general music, and musical theater to students in New England and the Midwest. He continues working with young musicians through the Columbus Philharmonic Youth Orchestra program, and has led “Side by Side” concerts for high school students with the Indianapolis Symphony, Columbus Philharmonic, and the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra. He also holds a Master’s degree in Instrumental Conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he studied with David Effron, Thomas Baldner, Imre Pallo, and John Poole.
An enthusiastic advocate of new music, Latshaw enjoys programming accessible and exciting modern works, often of his own commission. In the 2007-08 season, he led the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra in several premieres, including “The Underground Railroad” by jazz legend David Baker. He strives to share his passion for new music with young people; he has commissioned and premiered two works with the Columbus Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Latshaw presented one of his premieres, Jonathan Wey’s “Koinonia,” to the 2006 Conductors Guild Conference as part of the New Music Project.
Comfortable in many idioms, Latshaw has held the position of principal trumpet in several orchestras. He has performed with jazz/big bands as a trumpet player, vocalist, and band leader. He has appeared in roles with the Palace Professional Theater of Manchester and the New Hampshire State Opera. Performance tours have brought him to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, as well as across the United States.
Latshaw is also committed to innovative musical outreach. He was one of the first conductors to reach out to audiences through the internet. His conducting performances on Youtube.com have been viewed over 300,000 times, and he has a loyal following of subscribers to his performance videos.
Charles lives in Bloomington, Indiana with his wife, Kelley, and their dog, Lenny.
Latshaw’s career in music began in the field of education. After graduating summa cum laude from the Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, he taught band, choir, general music, and musical theater to students in New England and the Midwest. He continues working with young musicians through the Columbus Philharmonic Youth Orchestra program, and has led “Side by Side” concerts for high school students with the Indianapolis Symphony, Columbus Philharmonic, and the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra. He also holds a Master’s degree in Instrumental Conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he studied with David Effron, Thomas Baldner, Imre Pallo, and John Poole.
An enthusiastic advocate of new music, Latshaw enjoys programming accessible and exciting modern works, often of his own commission. In the 2007-08 season, he led the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra in several premieres, including “The Underground Railroad” by jazz legend David Baker. He strives to share his passion for new music with young people; he has commissioned and premiered two works with the Columbus Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Latshaw presented one of his premieres, Jonathan Wey’s “Koinonia,” to the 2006 Conductors Guild Conference as part of the New Music Project.
Comfortable in many idioms, Latshaw has held the position of principal trumpet in several orchestras. He has performed with jazz/big bands as a trumpet player, vocalist, and band leader. He has appeared in roles with the Palace Professional Theater of Manchester and the New Hampshire State Opera. Performance tours have brought him to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, as well as across the United States.
Latshaw is also committed to innovative musical outreach. He was one of the first conductors to reach out to audiences through the internet. His conducting performances on Youtube.com have been viewed over 300,000 times, and he has a loyal following of subscribers to his performance videos.
Charles lives in Bloomington, Indiana with his wife, Kelley, and their dog, Lenny.
