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Brian Morgan
May 25, 2016
Requiescat in pace.
Joy Davis
February 19, 2011
So sad to learn of this. Charles was a great teacher in my life and in many other musicians in this area. So glad I got to work with him through school and the Dayton Opera funatiks and later the Dayton Opera
January 5, 2011
I was so sad to learn of Charles' passing. What a great man, musician, conductor and friend. When he told me to call him 'Chuck' I felt so honored...but I loved his sense of humor and his huge laughter. When he conducted the DOC we loved it...he was a 'singer's conductor!' Such a dear person. I will miss you "Chuck."
Jay Jara
December 4, 2009
Dear "Chaly" as my Mon used to call him.
There are so many thing I'm grateful that I learned from you when you came to New York and stayed at my home as my guess. I'm sure they can use a super Conductor in Heaven.
Jay Jara, New York/New Jersey
joey stafford
June 29, 2009
charles,what can i say,i sat with him at bingo for years,he was alot of fun,he called us his girls. we loved charles,we are very sorry we missed his final bow,charles i hope you found peace on the other side, you will forever be missed.
Jeff Schiemann
June 7, 2009
CWW was a man of great care, greater gifts with a wonderful personality to share both with everyone he met. From my early days in MUSE machine to playing under him in the Dayton Opera, the joy and learning he could bring to you by just talking about his musical passion and performance experience was amazing.
The world is a lesser place without Charles, but those had the chance to know him are better off for his kindness, charm and wisdom. May we all touch as many lives as he did to make the world a better place.
Susan Habina
June 1, 2009
I loved and feared Charles simultaneously, a feeling which I think he purposely tried to create. Only this combination brought out the desire in me to perform better and better. And though he refered to me as "Second Bassoon" instead of my name for the first few years he was my conductor in MVSO, we slowly began to trust each other.
I'll never forget one day as a college student I had to miss rehearsal for a final exam. I told Rachel who encouraged me to tell Charles myself. He completely laughed at the site of this tall skinny girl cowering before him, begging permission to miss rehearsal. He said "Of course" and gave me a hug. I almost cried!
It was a great day for me when he called me "Susan" and then I was promoted to principal bassoon. He was truly my maestro, through all his talents and faults, and will remain as such forever in my and my bassoon's heart.
Leslie Hanna
May 23, 2009
I had the pleasure of knowing Charles through a mutual friend at the DPO. One prominent memory is the evening my Father asked him what type of music he liked to listen to, to which Charles replied something to the effect of, "If I want to listen to music, all I need to do is read a score." Just an amazing man.
I had the additional pleasure of seeing him conduct the DPO, and I was so impressed that before he began, he turned to face the audience and explained the story behind what we were about to hear.
I also have a treasured photo of him holding my (then) 5-month old. He will be missed, but his memory lives on through all of us who knew him.
Pam and Jerry Servaites
May 21, 2009
He will be greatly missed.
A Friend
May 15, 2009
I met Charles many years ago....What a wonderful person he was and he will be miss....
John Faas
May 15, 2009
I first met Charles when I moved to Dayton. It was the Winter of 2001 and my dear friend and professor at the time, Joey Bates was playing rehearsal piano for Dayton Opera's production of La Traviata. I was in awe of Charles and how he conducted the entire rehearsal from memory! He didn't use a score! I was most impressed. What a delightful man he was. Bravo Maestro (Charles)!
Nancy Guy
May 10, 2009
I first met Maestro Wendelken-Wilson in 1977 when I was 16 and he was conducting the Ohio All-State Youth Orchestra, of which I was a member. At that time, I was just discovering opera. With his experience as an opera conductor, he was fascinating to me! I will never forget how he kindly guided me towards various books on opera. Those volumes still line my bookshelves. I am now a music professor and am currently researching Beverly Sills' career. Last summer, after more than 30 years, I contacted him and asked him for an interview. He generously agree to met and to share his memories of working with Sills at the New York City Opera. I'm very grateful that I had a chance to meet him one more time. The memories that he relayed during our interview will certainly be an important part of my Sills study.
Thanks again Maestro for all that you shared. Even though our contact was short in duration, you were an important figure in my life. May you rest in peace.
Helena
May 7, 2009
I had the pleasure of working with CWW for almost 5 years at WDPR. In that time, we formed a bond that was like friendship and family rolled into one. There will never be another Charles Wendelken-Wilson. He was always the professional, the artist, and the teacher. He could make you feel at ease right away with his sparkly eyes and devilish smile. I can't even put into words how much I will miss him. I know he is somewhere fabulous where the music selection is infinite. Even though he would never talk about himself, I know that he was so happy to have been a part of so many peoples lives both personal and professional. He was very loved by me and everyone he met, and I will miss him all of my days.
Matthew Benjamin
May 6, 2009
As a fellow artist in the Dayton area, it was my pleasure to know Charles personally. I was also a fan that relied on Charles to keep me company and provide me with wonderful commentary and music while traveling many a mile. My thoughts are with all those, related or not, who find their world a little less colorful with the passing of Maestro Wendelken-Wilson.
Ruby Ivory
May 6, 2009
Charles it was the sound of your voice on WDPR that brought me to the wonderful world of classical music. Thank you
Karen Bomboy
May 6, 2009
I truly enjoyed and learned so much from
working with Maestro Wendelken-Wilson.
In my experiences with him through the Dayton Opera Chorus as well as Dayton Public Radio-- I found him to be elegant
and unassuming. I will miss him and I am sad to hear of his passing.
Paul Popp
May 5, 2009
To live in the hearts of those you love is not to die.
Dean & Jody Wardell
May 5, 2009
Maestro Charles Wendelken-Wilson was generously kind and patient. He was unassuming, always willing to take a teaching moment, and had an enveloping personal style that made you feel comfortable around him. We will miss the sound of his wonderfully distinctive voice and that infectious smile that lit up his face.
May 5, 2009
Over the years you made me laugh and you made me cry. Thank you Charlie. I'll miss you.
Richard McCauley
May 4, 2009
Charles made some wonderful contributions to the cultural life of the Dayton community. I happened to be the General Manager of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Association when we recruited and hired him to follow Dr. Katz as Music Director. His love of the classical arts and his sensitivity to the soul of music allowed his true talents to come through every time he was on the podium. Who could every forget the fact that it was Charles who brought us Beverly Sills on two occasions? He will be missed by many.
Michael McConnell
May 4, 2009
It was my great good fortune to stand side by side in collaboration with Maestro Wendelken-Wilson for a production of LUCIA which I directed for the Dayton Opera. Every rehearsal was work but the work was never a chore. It was a study in 'attention paid' to matters of style and taste and story-telling and to the myriad details that, if allowed to be revealed will fill the performance of an opera to the proportions required to make you say, 'Ah, NOW I get it.' Charles had a gift for that. We had four additional collaborations at Dayton Opera (TRAVIATA, RIGOLETTO, TOSCA, CARMEN) plus one (Handel’s AGRIPPINA) in Lucca on his one and only trip to Italy. I am monumentally grateful for every minute of all of them. I miss you, 'Maestro Cholly.’
Bob/Charlotte (Povia) Kelly
May 4, 2009
My wife and I worked with Charlie right from the beginning at the old NYC Opera and what success I achieved was mostly due to him. He was a great person and had a huge amount of talent. We love you Charlie.
Rebecca Andres
May 4, 2009
Charles, you were truly a beautiful musician. We loved your passion, your clarity of expression with a baton, your sense of detail in everything opera, your talent for communication, and your sense of humanity. We'll think of you every time we see red circles in our music, or use white-out. Rest well; now you're in the hands of the gods.
Rebecca Andres
Principal Flute
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
Elizabeth Ditmer
May 4, 2009
I had the privilege of working with Charles for quite a few years - both with Opera Funatics and the opera chorus. He was the finest musician I've ever met.
Audrey Carreira
May 4, 2009
I was a viola player with the Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and had the privilege of experiencing Mr. Wendelken- Wilson as a guest conductor. It was one of my most memorable practices and I'm very sorry to hear of his passing. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Michael Corvino
May 4, 2009
I had the pleasure of working with Maestro Charles Wendelken-Wilson at a gala concert with Dayton Opera. He was professional, supportive and so very helpful. I am saddened by the news of his passing. He will be missed by all who knew him. RIP Maestro......
Jeff Woodward
May 4, 2009
My daughter, Leslie, was a high school cellist who played in the Theater Under the Stars and in the Miami Valley Symphony. He was such a positive factor in her musical experience and her development. His passing is a keen loss for the Miami Valley...
Jim Weeks
May 4, 2009
In the summer of 1989, we at Theater Under The Stars got rid of the on-stage band and created a pit (swamp) orchestra for "Oklahoma" and "West Side Story". After that summer, the members of that pit had so much fun that they wanted to continue the orchestra through the winter. Ron Kindell led us for that first year and did a splendid job. In 1990, Clark Haines was instrumental in getting CW2 to lead us. Life would never be the same! He pushed us and we got better and enjoyed it. He was Charles. We are better for that.
Pat Carson
May 4, 2009
I have not seen Charles in several years, but always think of him when I am tuned in to out local Public Radio station. It was a joy to work with Charles at the Kettering Theatre Under the Stars. I remember him with fondness and respect. I'm sorry he is gone.
Michael Calvert
May 3, 2009
The voice of Charles Wendelken-Wilson was a comforting pleasure to me as I listened to afternoon concerts.
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