Charles Messersmith, Principal Clarinet, began playing the clarinet at the age of eight. He attended the Cleveland Institute of Music and received a Bachelor of Music degree (while studying with Franklin Cohen) in 1991. He then went on to receive 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 by national auditions to the Second Clarinet position with the Charleston Symphony, and in 2005 to the Principal Clarinet position.

Along with regular performances with the CSO, he performs in Charleston with local, national, and internationally renowned chamber musicians, as well as for Piccolo Spoleto Festival programs in the spring. In the summer, he performs at the Wintergreen Music Festival in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He has been featured numerous times as a soloist with the Charleston Symphony and will appear once again in the CSO’s upcoming 2021-2022 season.

Mr. Messersmith is a D’Addario artist.