School of Theatre Arts

Charles Berggren studied Piano Performance (BM) at Illinois Wesleyan, Collaborative Piano (MM) at Illinois State University and has worked in the School of Theatre Arts since 2012, where he currently serves as Instructional Staff and Music Director in the Music Theatre department. In addition to his duties as Music Director and principle accompanist for all mainstage and laboratory musicals, Charles teaches Music Theory 1 & 2, and Keyboard 1 & 2. Charles also serves as Music Director and principle accompanist for upper-level performance classes including Senior Showcase.

In addition to his work in academia, Charles serves as Music Director and pianist for the Unitarian Universalist church of Bloomington-Normal where he oversees the programming of all music in addition to directing the choral and brass programs.

During his summers, Charles collaborates with Illinois Wesleyan colleagues and students to write, produce and perform original children's operas with Prairie Fire Theatre which tours to over fifty schools in central Illinois every May Term.

An avid outdoorsman, when not at the piano, Charles can be found long-distance hiking on the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, Superior and Ice Age Trails or kayaking around the northern Great Lakes.

Education

BM, Illinois Wesleyan University

MM, Illinois State University