Charles M. Owens is currently a K-12 Department Chair for Performing Arts in D.C. as well as 5th-8th grade middle school choral director. He holds a Master of Arts degree with an emphasis in conducting from Webster University. His musical journey began when his mother enrolled him in an elementary summer music program to keep him active. He continued his studies earning a degree in piano pedagogy and taught private lessons for several years at Maestro Music studio in Ohio. Always a singer in church, community and university choirs, his choral conducting life began in 1996 when he was invited to build the choral program at the Wellington School in Columbus. Charles has studied with Dr. Amy Chivington, Dr. David Rayl and his choral mentor at Webster University Dr. Katherine Smith Bowers. During graduate studies, Charles traveled yearly to Berlin, Germany where he founded the Unity Gospel Choir in Pankow. He conducted three summer concert series with Unity before passing the baton to a local conductor. In 1999, He was appointed as conductor of the National Association of Independent Schools–People of Color Conference choir which he has directed for 21 years. His most recent choral activities include membership in the Dallas Symphony Chorus under Japp van Zweden and Festival Administrator for Hazamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir a program of the Zamir Choral Foundation, Matthew Lazar founder and director. When he’s not conducting or teaching, Charles spends as much time as possible visiting his siblings and their children in Cologne and Kiefersfelden, Germany.