BIOGRAPHY

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Dr. Charles Metz studied piano at Penn State University, beginning his harpsichord studies through private lessons with the legendary Igor Kipnis. While earning his Ph.D.in Historical Performance Practice at Washington University in Saint Louis Missouri, he studied with Trevor Pinnock. More recently, Dr. Metz has worked with Webb Wiggins and Lisa Crawford at the Oberlin Conservatory. Dr. Metz has performed across the country with concerts in Chicago, Saratoga, Bennington, Louisville, and Liberty, MO. He has performed solo recitals at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., Oberlin Conservatory and appeared as a guest artist in the Kansas City Symphony’s summer program, “Summerfest”. With the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis, he was the featured keyboard soloist in Bach’s Fifth Brandenburg Concerto under conductor Nicholas McGegan. Dr. Metz has appeared with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Ars Antigua Chicago and the Newberry Consort of Chicago. Recently, he has played with the Desert Baroque in Palm Desert California and did performances including master classes at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and Penn State University in State College PA. As an early keyboard specialist, he is currently performing on his historic Italian virginal, harpsichords and fortepianos. Dr. Metz’s list of performance credits includes international appearances in the Netherlands, Germany and Costa Rica. In addition to his performing activity, he serves on the Board of Directors of Chamber Music Society of St. Louis and The Newberry Consort. Dr. Metz also has a doctorate in Optometry and worked for twenty years in his own private practice and Clarkson Eyecare in St. Louis before retiring.