Charles E. Moore -- Classical Pianist

 

Charles E. Moore

Charles Ethelbert Moore was born on June 30, 1930 in Brownwood, Texas to Charles Austin Moore and Ruby Brown Weatherby Moore.   Charles Austin had worked for 22 years as the purchasing agent for the Plymouth Oil Company, one of the largest and most successful independent oil producers in west Texas and later became a part of Marathon Oil Company.  Charles’ mother, Ruby, taught in the public schools of Texas for 27 years. He was their oldest child with two siblings, Marilyn Brown Moore, born in 1935 and Michael Rusk Moore born in 1936.

Charles was educated in the Texas schools and attended Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He went on to become a graduate of the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago where he studied Orchestra Conducting under Alexander Aster.

During the Korean War, Charles served in the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps.

After his military service, Charles returned to Chicago and became an accomplished music teacher, composer and noted classical pianist.  In 1961 Charles accepted a position at his alma mater, the American Conservatory of Music where he was appointed as Registrar of the school.  In 1971 he was appointed Dean of the Conservatory.  He taught aesthetics and opera criticism at the conservatory.  During his tenure he also presented master classes at music conservatories in Peking, Nanking and Shanghai, China.

The American Conservatory of Music was the oldest private degree-granting music school in the midwestern United States and was recognized for developing the Conservatory Symphony Orchestra and producing numerous student recitals.  Charles’ greatest achievement occurred in 1980 when he became the school’s President.   Unfortunately during his tenure as President, the school began to suffer financial difficulties.  In January 1987, the conservatory filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection; and shortly thereafter, Charles Moore resigned as the school’s president.

After leaving the American Conservatory of Music, Charles became a member the faculty of the School of Music at DePaul University. He also taught languages and music for the Discovery Center in Chicago In 1988 DePaul University presented his one act opera "I Can Sing Better".  He conducted and played for numerous productions of standard and modern operas in Chicago and presented recitals in Chicago clubs and organizations.

Charles died on January 26, 1995 in Chicago at the age of 64.  A service of memory and celebration for Charles was held at the DePaul University Concert Hall.

Charles E. Moore

Tombstone of Charles Moore

LINEAGE:   (Charles Ethelbert Moore was the son of Charles Austin and Ruby Brown Weatherby Moore and the grandson of Charles Maxon and Ethel Hill Moore.  Charles Maxon was the son of Thomas Oscar and Sarah Adelie Thomas Moore.  Sarah was the third child of Stanley and Sarah Thompson Rothrock Thomas.  Stanley was the seventh child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)