He is a violist and violinist born in Norwich, Connecticut whose parents was first taught him the piano with studies in the violin at the University of Connecticut and at the Berkshire Music Center in the Tanglewood Young Artist Program. He took further studies at the University of Minnesota where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics with Honors.
While a student he gave solo performances with orchestras that include Eastern Connecticut Symphony, Hartford Symphony Orchestra and the Manchester Civic Orchestra and after graduation became a violinist with the Minnesota Orchestr ain 1971.
In 1974 he became a member of the Cleveland Orchestra, performing with them until 1976 when he moved to the Rotterdam Philharmonic.
In 1978 he was invited by Sr. Georg Solti to join the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as a first violinist. He remained in that section of the orchestra until the Principal Violist, Milton Preves, retired. He became his successor as the Prince Charitable Trust Chair which later became the Paul Hindemith Principal Viola Endoed Chair. During his time with the CSO he performed as a soloist alongside giving solo performances with Kingsport Tennessee Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra of Cost Rica, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra of the Pines. He retired from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 2017.
As an orchestral and chamber musician he has been a concertmaster with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, the Chicago Opera Theater Orchestra, the Northbrook Symphony, the Orchestra of the Apollo Chorus and the Sinfonia Orchestra of Chicago and has been Principal Viola with the Ars Viva Symphony Orchesstra and the Ravinia Festival Orchestra. Other ensembles he has performed with include the Chicago Symphony String Quartet, the Daniel String Quartet, the Louisville String Quartet, Tononi Ensemble and the Vermeer Quartet.
Recordings he has performed on include Chamber Music for Pianos and Strings by Easley Blackwood, Richard Strauss: Don Quixote, Richard Strauss: Wind Concertos, Corigliano: Symphony No. 1, Wagner: Overtures and Preludes, Arnold Schonberg: Verklarte Nacht Piano & Orchestral Pieces and Brahms: Violin Concerto/Sonata No. 3 by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Black Tie by The Manhattans
In the field of musical education he has been on the Viola Faculty of the New Music School in Chicago, Illinois.
In 2019 he was presented with the Norwich Rotary clubs and Woman’s City Club Native Son Award which recognises outstanding achievements by natives of the Norwich, Connecticut area.
Sources:
- https://charlespikler.com/home
- https://www.ovationpress.com/c-100-pikler-charles.aspx#[PageNumber(0)|PageSize(99999)|PageSort(Composer,name)|DisplayType(Grid)]
- https://www.newmusicschool.com/advisory-board/charles-pikler/
- https://www.theday.com/article/20190402/NWS01/190409879
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/890350-Charles-Pikler
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/charles-pikler-mn0001800412