BIOGRAPHY

Charles R. "Chuck" Nye 
Email: charlesnye@gmail.com

    Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1962, Charles R. "Chuck" Nye has always had a passion for the sound of the organ and was taking his first formal lessons from Ms. Betty Ann Ferrell (formerly of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) when he was 12 years old. By the time he was 14, his teacher announced to his parents that that they should consider finding a more advanced professional to instruct their son! Soon after turning 15, Chuck listened, watched, and was very inspired by the creative genius of organist and world-renowned performer Hector Olivera. Imagine what a thrill it was for this young man to meet the entertainer in person!  After one afternoon’s performance in Pittsburgh, Chuck’s parents invited Hector to visit their home to hear their son play his Wurlitzer 805 console. After their guest heard Chuck play he said to them, "Your son has the gift!" 

    Chuck was immediately enrolled in further lessons from teachers John Domico and Andrew Yalch. These gentlemen encouraged Chuck to play wherever and whenever possible. He frequently was given the opportunity to express his own creativity (and sometimes frustrated one teacher) by playing new tunes with his own improvisations and arrangements. After mastering the printed sheet music, he reveled at adding as many different sounds and combinations of tones and rhythms as were humanly possible to add to his shear joy of entertaining. Before graduation from high school, Chuck was playing the organ regularly at Baptist Churches located in Duquesne, Ambridge, and Knoxville, Pennsylvania. 

    While courting his wife, Lezlie, he moved to Maryland and delighted in giving free miniconcerts at the showrooms of local organ and piano stores. It was no coincidence that God was stirring the hearts of the lovebirds, as well as their shared passion for music, as they were drawn to the teachings of Martin Luther and joined Concordia Lutheran Church. Since their marriage in 1995, Chuck has teamed up with Lezlie to provide music for weddings, baptisms, and other church and social celebrations. Requests from his family and friends have brought him to play many different types of keyboards, electronic and pipe organs in venues that include churches of various denominations in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland – most recently, for Concordia Lutheran Church (Upper Marlboro), Augsburg Lutheran Home (Baltimore), Church of the Good Shepherd (Sunderland), Grace Lutheran Church (La Plata), St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Crofton), Our Saviour Lutheran Church (Baltimore), and Friendship United Methodist Church (Friendship). Chuck is also a member of the Hilbus Chapter of the Organ Historical Society (www.hilbus.org). 

    Chuck’s interest in music hasn’t always been limited to the organ, however. In junior high school, he had an opportunity to practice his other musical abilities under the direction of Randy Purcell after auditioning and being accepted at the Center for the Musically Talented (Pittsburgh, PA). His background includes marching band, orchestra and jazz band experience (trombone and baritone), performances at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, and as keyboardist for a garage band named "Triphammer" in suburbs of his hometown of Pittsburgh. Chuck is currently the Organist for the First Lutheran Church’s Classic Grace service (8:00 a.m.) in Sunderland, Maryland. He also serves as full-time organist for Concordia Lutheran Church, Upper Marlboro, Maryland (10:30 a.m.) each Sunday. Chuck and Lezlie currently reside in Chesapeake Beach and are blessed with two lovely daughters, Bethany Rae and Jordana Lea.