Charles Baldwin is a conductor, pianist, and teacher from Decorah, Iowa, currently serving as assistant conductor of the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra (Atlanta, GA). From 2019 to 2024 Baldwin earned the master of music and doctor of musical arts (orchestral conducting) degrees from the University of North Texas (Denton, TX). He served as graduate conductor of the university orchestras, assistant conductor of the university opera program, music director and conductor of the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science orchestra, and assistant conductor of the Lewisville Lake Symphony (Lewisville, TX). Additionally, Baldwin served as orchestra librarian and teaching fellow of Fundamentals of Conducting (MUAG 3800).
He studied conducting with David Itkin and Clay Couturiaux and piano, his related field of study, with Adam Wodnicki. In 2019 Baldwin earned the bachelor of music (piano) degree as a fourth-generation student of Furman University. He studied piano with Derek Parsons. Baldwin served as assistant conductor of the Furman Symphony Orchestra and conducting intern of the Carolina Youth Symphony.
In 2019 he performed the first movement of Sergei Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto as a winner of the biennial Furman University Orchestra Concerto Contest. Baldwin has considerable experience in the theater, having conducted a University of North Texas Opera performance of Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel as well as musical theater productions at The Lovett School (Atlanta, GA), Furman University, and New Minowa Players (Decorah, IA). Baldwin’s upcoming guest conducting engagements include the Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon (Medford, OR), Emory University Symphony Orchestra, and Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra (Atlanta, GA). He has participated in conducting and piano contests, festivals, institutes, and workshops around the country.
Mr. Kilgus received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Furman University. He received a dual degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in Conducting and Music Education.
A teacher in the Greenville County School District for 33 years, Mr. Kilgus currently serves as Co-Director of Bands at Mauldin Middle School, one of the largest and most successful band programs in the state of South Carolina. His program is comprised of five individual bands, a drum line, and various chamber ensembles.
Mr. Kilgus has worked with the Carolina Youth Symphony as conductor of the Repertory Orchestra since 1991, and conductor of the newly formed Concert Orchestra since 2007. He is involved as a judge in numerous festivals throughout South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. His professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, the National Bandmaster’s Fraternity, Music Educator’s National Convention (MENC), and the South Carolina Band Director’s Association (SCBDA). Mr. Kilgus is also a recipient of the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence. In 2023, he received the Bandworld Legion of Honor, a special award of the John Philip Sousa Foundation, for his significant contributions to the profession through dedication to bands and band music.
Dr. Rich Greer is a violinist, composer, and conductor from Greenville, South Carolina. A National Board Certified Instrumental Music teacher, she is the Orchestra Director of Northwest Middle School in the Greenville County School System. She is a graduate of Boston University where she earned a Masters of Music Education Degree and the University of South Carolina where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education. During her studies at USC, she performed with the University Symphony and Chamber Orchestra and was trained in string pedagogy through the nationally acclaimed String Project, a training program for rising string educators.
She is the recipient of the Yale Distinguished Musician Award and attended the Symposium on Music in Schools at Yale University. She has served on the board of the South Carolina Music Educators Association for most of her 25 years of teaching, served as the Orchestra Division President 2019-2021 and currently serves as the All-State Orchestra Chair. On the SC American String Teachers Association board, she serves as a Member At Large.
As a violinist and violist, she has performed with the Asheville Symphony, Brevard Chamber Orchestra, Hendersonville Symphony, Charlotte Philharmonic, Spartanburg Philharmonic, and the Greater Anderson Musical Arts Consortium. She has served as guest conductor and clinician for All Region and All County Orchestras in Anderson, Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, Myrtle Beach and Spartanburg.
Mrs. Ashley Rhoden is a violinist, conductor, teacher, and private instructor of Duncan, South Carolina. Mrs. Rhoden is a Greenville native who grew up in the Greenville County School District, graduated from the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, and attended Furman University where she received a Bachelors of Music in Music Education. In 2018, Mrs. Rhoden completed her Master of Arts in Music Education from North Greenville University. Mrs. Rhoden is a product of the Carolina Youth Symphony where she was an orchestra member, collegiate string intern, and now is thrilled to be on staff as a conductor.
Mrs. Rhoden has experience teaching a wide range of ages. She spent the first eight years of her teaching career as an orchestra director in Greenville County where she grew two full time string programs at Eastside and Riverside High Schools. In addition to teaching, Mrs. Rhoden has served as Furman’s Suzuki Institute Intern, Dean of Students for the Furman University Jazz Camp, and violinist for Mitchell Road Presbyterian.
Her professional affiliations include American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA), Music Educator’s National Convention (MENC), Kindermusik International, and Palmetto State Teachers Association. In 2013, she was a recipient of the Greenville County Emerging Teacher of the Year.
In 2019 she received her Kindermusik certification as an instructor and shortly thereafter became a music teacher in Spartanburg District 5 where she currently teaches Kindergarten through 4th grade.
Mrs. Rhoden is passionate about instilling a love for music in children at a young age and helping them to achieve a strong musical foundation.
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