Charles Messersmith, clarinet

Charles Messersmith, Principal Clarinet of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, began playing the clarinet at the age of 8.

He attended the Cleveland Institute of Music and received a Bachelor of Music degree (while studying with Franklin Cohen)  in 1991 and his Master of Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music while studying with David Breeden (San Francisco Symphony).  After graduation, he became the Principal Clarinet of the Augusta Symphony and performed there for four years.  In 1998 he was appointed to the Second Clarinet position with the Charleston Symphony, and in 2005 to the Principal Clarinet position which he holds to this day.

Along with regular performances with the Charleston Symphony, he performs throughout the year with local, national, and internationally renowned chamber musicians and is on faculty at the College of Charleston and Charleston Southern University.  He has been a member of the Wintergreen Performing Arts Orchestra since 2004.

Charles is a d’addario artist.