Charles Martin “Charlie” Gessner is a music educator, conductor and percussionist who calls the Carolinas his home. He was inspired to study music by the tradition of excellence in high school bands throughout his hometown of Morganton, NC. Charlie currently serves as the Director of Bands at Blue Ridge Middle School in Greer, SC. He holds a Bachelors of Music Degree in Music Education from Furman University in Greenville, SC.
At Blue Ridge, Charlie oversees a comprehensive music education program that includes 6th-8th Grade Concert Bands, Jazz Band, Honors Symphonic Band, Drumline, and other groups. His ensembles and students have received Superior and Excellent Ratings at festival events and have earned seats in several different honor bands. Charlie also assists in the direction of the Blue Ridge High School Band as a Percussion Director for both Marching Band and Percussion Ensemble. The Blue Ridge High School Band continues to improve in quality and placement each year at SCBDA Marching Band State Finals.
Charlie’s teaching career began with his role as the Percussion Director at J.L. Mann High School in Greenville, SC. While at Mann, he oversaw all aspects of the marching percussion program, including marching band and indoor percussion. The group became well known for its strong performances, as they won the percussion caption at many marching band contests and even a gold medal in Percussion Scholastic Novice through the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association. Following his time at Mann, Charlie was a Student Teacher for the D.W. Daniel and R.C. Edwards Band Programs in Central, SC, where he learned under the tutelage of 3 master Band Directors in South Carolina. Charlie assisted in the direction of all 3 Edwards Middle School Concert Bands, the 8th Grade Percussion Ensemble, the Daniel Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble.
As a conductor, Charlie was honored to serve as a Drum Major of Furman’s marching band, The Paladin Regiment, during his junior and senior year. With this role came the responsibility of leading the marching band throughout the fall, and conducting the Furman Basketball Band in the Winter. Charlie has attended the UNC - Charlotte Band Directors Workshop and Conductors Symposium with clinicians Travis Cross and Alfred Watkins. He also had frequent guest conducting opportunities with the Lakeside Concert Band in Greenville, SC, and the First Baptist Church Chancel Choir in Morganton, NC. Charlie was awarded a research fellowship from Furman University to study the habits of great wind band conductors and apply them to pieces of varying difficulties across the repertoire. He and his research partner then published their findings via a blog entitled Conducting Connections: A One-Stop Shop for Young Wind Conductors.
Primarily a percussionist, Charlie performed with many ensembles during his time at Furman. These included the Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Paladin Regiment, Basketball Band, and more. He had the chance to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention as a member of the Furman Percussion Ensemble, who were one of three winners in the International Percussion Ensemble Competition. Charlie has also played with many community groups, including the Lakeside Concert Band, Poinsett Wind Symphony, First Baptist Church Orchestra in Spartanburg, SC and others.
Charlie is a music education and conducting student of Sue Samuels, David Stanley, Chaz Paxton, Maggie Walters, and Daniel Marsh. He studied percussion with Omar Carmenates, Justin Watt, Emma Gierszal, Chad Higdon, and Bobby Pearson. In his free time, Charlie loves to play tennis and golf with friends, watch TV and movies, and spend time with his family.