Meet the Director
Leading the Gray's Creek Orchestra with passion and expertise, our director brings decades of musical mastery to the podium, inspiring students to reach new heights of artistic excellence.
Professional Journey
Charles "Chuck" Bossert was born and raised in Rochester, New York. He began studying the cello at age eight under the guidance of Dr. David Fray of Roberts Wesleyan College in North Chili, New York. As a teenager, he preformed with the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, touring throughout the United States and Europe. One of the highlights of this experience was participating in the orchestra's annual concert alongside the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra at the renowned Eastman Theatre in Rochester.
Chuck earned Bachelor of Music degrees in both Music Education and Performance from Ithaca College, where he studied with Einar “Jeff” Holm. During his college summers, he continued his studies with Lynn Richmond, Assistant Principal Cellist of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
Following graduation, Chuck taught in the Victor Central School District in Victor, New York, while performing as a section cellist with the Penfield Symphony Orchestra. During this time, he studied with Stefan Reuss, Principal Cellist of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
Seeking to further his performance career, Chuck began graduate studies toward a Master of Music in Performance at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. There, he studied with Matt Wexler and served as Assistant Principal Cellist of the Symphonic Orchestra and Principal Cellist of the Opera Orchestra. He also performed as a section cellist with the Chamber Orchestra of Northern New York under the direction of Professor Ken Andrews.
In 2006, Chuck relocated to Lafayette, Indiana, where he taught lower strings at Sunnyside Intermediate School and Jefferson High School. Alongside his teaching responsibilities, he maintained an active performance schedule, playing for weddings, musical productions, and community events, while performing on both cello and double bass with the Frankfort Community Orchestra.
Since moving to North Carolina in 2018, Chuck has continued to build successful string programs and perform throughout the region. After teaching at St. Pauls Middle School during the 2018–2019 school year, he became Director of Orchestras at Gray’s Creek Middle School and Gray’s Creek High School. Under his leadership, the orchestra programs have grown from approximately 40 students in grades 6–12 to more than 150 students. The ensembles have consistently earned Superior Ratings at NCMEA Music Performance Adjudication events. In recognition of his dedication to music education and student achievement, Chuck was selected as the 2025 Teacher of the Year by the Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce.
An active performer throughout the Carolinas, Chuck regularly performs with the Raleigh Symphony, Long Bay Symphony, and Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. He also maintains a thriving private studio, where his students have consistently earned superior ratings at solo festivals and competitions across New York, Indiana, California, and Texas.