Musical Director – Charles Musgrave
Charles Musgrave is an accomplished and popular Northwest Valley conductor. He engages his audiences with interesting anecdotes and historical narratives relating to his musical selections. His entertaining style is always well received by audiences of all ages. He has conducted the Desert Brass since 2000 and has been Director of Music at Willowbrook Church, the Conductor and now Assistant Conductor of the Sun City Concert Band. Charles graduated from the Shurtleff College of Music and completed his Masters Degree at the University of Illinois and Doctorate studies at the University of Colorado. He was born in Alton, Illinois where he taught music and was Director of Development at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. He played French horn with the St. Louis Philharmonic and the Chautauqua Symphony and currently plays with the Sun Cities Chamber Orchestra.
Associate Conductor – Dr. Robert Ouren
Dr. Ouren has been a Minnesota music educator for over 35 years, graduating from Winona State College with a Bachelors degree and receiving both his M.A. and Ph. D. for the University of Minnesota. In 1991, Bob finshed his public school career in the Edina, MN school system. While serving as the Teaching and Learning Specialist For the Arts, the Edina Schools were named 2005 and 2007 GRAMMY Signature School Award winners. Upon retirement from Edina, Dr. Ouren taught music education and conducting classes at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN until his “full” retirement in 2019.
Bob was a wind section coach for the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies for ten years. He has performed all over the Minneapolis area and southern Minnesota. He has served as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor for numerous festivals, contests and honor bands throughout MN and once judged a week long contest through the state of Colorado.
Dr. Ouren received the Ashland Oil Achievement Awaqrd, the Stanbury Award for Outstanding Band Director in Minnesota from ASBDA. In 2007 he was a simi-finalist in the Minnesota Teacher of the Year program (sponsored by Educatin Minnesota) and most recently received the Educator of the Year Award for 2011 from the Minnesota Music Educators Association.