Charles Parker is an avid musician who keeps busy in the Triad of North Carolina. He is the current Adjunct Professor of Orchestral Strings Studies, the Director of the Winston-Salem State University Chamber Orchestra, and the Orchestra Director at the North Carolina Leadership Academy. While being a professor is part of his job, he also enjoys advising the students he works with to help them not only stay on an academic track but also a moral compass as well. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Master of Music in Music Education with focused coursework in Music Therapy from the Florida State University. Though this is his first year working with the WFCYO, his excitement to be reunited with colleagues is through the roof. He has years of public-school teaching experience as an orchestral director and choral director while also teaching general music classes. He teaches privately with music studios in the Triad area and assists with music programs in the area by supplying lessons for students involved in music programs. While holding many professional memberships, he also plays with the Danville Symphony Orchestra, Greensboro Philharmonia, wedding gigs, various theatre gigs in NC for shows.