Dr. Charlie Chadwell (he/him) is a performer, educator, and advocate for new music. He serves as Assistant Professor of Saxophone at Western Illinois University and as Director of Professional Activities for the College Music Society. An active chamber musician, Dr. Chadwell is a founding member of Camerata Nova, a contemporary woodwind quintet that expands the traditional instrumentation by featuring saxophone in place of horn. Through this ensemble, he has commissioned and premiered works by composers including Katherine Pukinskis, Matt Mason, and Paul Berlinsky, with performances at national and international events such as the College Music Society National Conference and the International Double Reed Society Conference.

As a collaborator, Dr. Chadwell has performed with the acclaimed Chicago-based quartet ~Nois and has premiered works by composers including Jim Stephenson, Hong-Da Chin, and James Caldwell. His performance of Stephenson’s Code of Conduct, a concerto for saxophone and wind ensemble co-commissioned with WIU Director of Bands Mike Fansler, represents a major addition to the instrument’s repertoire. Dedicated to community engagement and education, Dr. Chadwell regularly presents clinics and performances at universities, high schools, and professional conferences across the country.

Chadwell holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a Performance Certificate from The University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Harvey Pittel and Stephen Page; a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance from Oklahoma State University, where he studied with Jeffrey Loeffert and Tommy Poole; and both a Master of Music in Music Theory and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Saxophone Performance from Michigan State University, where he studied with Joseph Lulloff.