Dr. Charles Menghini

Dr. Charles Menghini is President Emeritus of VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, who has served music students his entire career.  His journey started as a band director in Kansas and Missouri where he taught high school for nearly 20 years. In 1994 he joined the faculty at VanderCook where he contributed much to the program until he retired in 2017. He was also very active in the music industry, co-writing method books such as the successful series Essential Elements Band Method published by Hal Leonard. Ever working hard to encourage music makers, Charlie has also played an important role on NAMM’s Music Achievement Council. And to think it all started playing trumpet in the third grade!