Dear Rice community,
I’m writing to share the sad news that Shepherd School of Music trumpet professor Charlie Geyer died recently at age 79 after a long but inspiring battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as ALS.
Throughout his career, Charlie was a member of the Chicago Lyric Opera, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Grand Park Symphony Summer Orchestra and the Houston Symphony, which engaged him as the principal trumpet in 1978. He joined the Shepherd School in 2013 after previously teaching at Northwestern University, his alma mater, and the Eastman School of Music. At Rice, Charlie served on the Faculty Senate for two terms and as chair of brass. You can read more about his work and impact in Rice News.
Charlie was a highly successful trumpet teacher who placed many students into notable positions both as performers and as teachers. Recently, Charlie and his beloved wife and fellow Shepherd School trumpet professor, Barbara Butler, received the International Trumpet Guild’s Honorary Award. The award is typically bestowed to late-career professionals for their significant contributions to trumpet performance, teaching, publishing, research and composition.
Charlie and Barbara had a tremendous impact on their students, fellow musicians and other music professors. We will miss him and his passion for music and mentoring the next generation of musicians. I extend my deepest sympathies to Barbara, their daughter, Jorie, and Charlie’s colleagues in the Shepherd School of Music. May his memory serve as a blessing and inspiration to all of us.
Warm regards,
Amy Dittmar,
Howard R. Hughes Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs