乐播传媒

Bob Charles isn鈥檛 a professional musician. He played euphonium in high school and college band, but his life has taken him on a different journey in the decades since.

Still, like so many people, he can鈥檛 imagine a life without music.

鈥淚 always have music going in my car,鈥� Charles laughs. 鈥淪ome people listen to talk radio鈥擨 listen to [local radio station] 97.3. Stillness is great, but music enriches every moment.

鈥淭he world can鈥檛 function without some element of music.鈥�

The longtime McDonald鈥檚 franchise owner says that鈥檚 why he and his wife Judy have always supported the College of Music in any way they can. Whether it鈥檚 starting the Adopt-a-Student Program, being tireless local advocates of the college, or now, naming a new recipient of the Bob and Judy Charles Endowed Chair in Music.

Originally endowed in the 1990s and given to beloved director of bands Allan McMurray, Charles says the chair is meant to celebrate and thank the outstanding music faculty at CU Boulder.

鈥淚 had been on the advisory board for 10 or 15 years when [Dean Emeritus] Dan Sher and I were talking about how to get more financial support for the college鈥檚 faculty. I was in band through college, so Judy and I decided to endow a chair for Allan.

鈥淗e loved the idea and over the years we became good friends鈥攇oing to dinner, playing golf鈥攁nd we still talk.鈥�

When McMurray retired in 2013, the chair position went unfilled for three years until Dean Robert Shay and Charles set their sights on renewing it.

鈥淚 spoke to Alan about it and he and I both thought that it would be appropriate to pass the chair along to [Director of Orchestras] Gary Lewis.鈥�

Just like McMurray, Lewis is a conductor, which Charles says is important to him and his wife. He鈥檚 also admired and respected in the music world and by his peers at the college.

鈥淭he faculty was very supportive of the decision,鈥� Charles says. 鈥淕ary and I have gotten better acquainted since then鈥� we even played a round of golf two days after we met.鈥�

鈥淚 look forward to getting to know them even better,鈥� says Lewis. 鈥淚鈥檓 so fascinated and impressed by the great work they鈥檝e done, and continue to do, for this community."

The importance of singing the praises of the College of Music鈥攐n a campus known for its research and scientific endeavors鈥攈as never been lost on Charles, who himself started his career in agriculture.

鈥淚鈥檝e always felt that despite its high quality, the College of Music has always been this little light under the bush. I want to do everything I can to help bring recognition to the college.鈥�

And that starts with the college鈥檚 faculty.

鈥淭he faculty works so hard to help students. Whatever they need, whenever they need it, the faculty helps out. You don鈥檛 get that level of commitment and interest everywhere, and that drives me to want to do everything I can to help them,鈥� Charles says.

In the case of his achievement, Lewis says it鈥檚 hard to ignore the team effort of this music community. 鈥淎ny time a conductor is recognized it鈥檚 because a whole lot of other people are doing a great job鈥攖he musicians, the faculty, the administration, the marketing department. So while I鈥檓 gratified, it鈥檚 important to recognize the work of others as well.鈥�

Which is why Bob and Judy Charles will go on being some of the biggest cheerleaders the college has in the community.

鈥淚 always want to toot our horn, so to speak,鈥� Charles chuckles. 鈥淚鈥檓 really pleased with Dean Shay鈥檚 vision for the college and the life he鈥檚 pumped into it. The exposure our kids and the college get at events like the Carnegie Hall concert helps us attract better students, which in turn attracts better faculty. One supports the other.鈥�

鈥淧eople like Bob and Judy allow us do what we do,鈥� Lewis adds. 鈥淭heir support gives us the freedom financially and otherwise to pursue our mission and our passion as a college and as artists. It鈥檚 invaluable.鈥�

Visit the Giving page for information on how you can support music at the 乐播传媒 Boulder.