A Purposeful Musical Life
​​
Chuck Biel was raised in a semi-pro musical family (Sister Classical Pianist and Father accomplished Violinist & Surgeon) until the age of ten when a family tragedy left Chuck to his own musical means, to pursue multiple styles of music, and the journeys that sprouted from his fertile beginnings. He saw Jimi Hendrix in 68, a performance of Beethoven's 5th Symphony, and Led Zepp` a year later... the plan was launched! Chuck became a catalyst behind hundreds of musical adventures. He is a life-long full-time professional musician who holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education/Performance and has been a musician since 1970. A multi-style performer with experience in Guitar, Bass, exotic instruments, and composition/arranging. Chuck taught on the University level for 20 years and was on the select elite faculty for the Governors Honors Academy Of West Virginia. He is also one of America's few HARPEJJI Artists and an Ableton Live Performer!
​
​
​
Chuck has taught over One Hundred and Ninety Thousand Guitar lessons and Music classes. He has trained musicians to work as sidemen in the worlds best bands and with world class artists including , Ray Charles, David Bowie, David Byrne (Talking Heads), Etta James, Olivia Newton-John, Eric Church, Martina McBride, Bryan White, Meat Loaf, Missing Persons, and many more. One of Chuck's students was nominated for a Grammy and performed with David Byrne on a recent world tour.
​
​
​
​
Chuck has performed with Ann Magnuson, Rita Moreno, Marvin Hamlisch, Shirley Jones, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Maureen McGovern, Herb Ellis, Charley Musselwhite, Ann Baker, and many local and international artists. He has studied and performed with the guitarist for the Chick Corea Elektrik Band, Frank Gambale. Chuck performed with the West Virginia Symphony for 20 years and has performed a number of times on National Public Radio's "Mountain Stage" as well as multiple performances on Public Radio. Largest audience Chuck has performed in front of: 250.000!
​
​
​
​
He has arranged, performed and composed for numerous recording sessions and concert performances and some of the films he has scored have won first place at major film festivals such as The Houston International Film Festival and the Chicago Film Festival, (to name a few). Chuck composed for award winning film maker Bill Richardson (American Pickers consultant) on "Mine Wars" which is now archived in the United States Library of Congress and the University of California Berkeley Labor History Library. Chuck's work has won Telly Awards for the Danny Boyd documentaries "Red Salt & Reynolds", “Ghosts Of Green Bottom” , and "Secrets Of The Valley" which led to Emmy nominations. As Music Director /Composer In Residence for the Charleston Stage Company he composed original scores for Sam Shepard's "The Tooth Of Crime", Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "A Comedy Of Errors" (all of the Shakespeare Comedies) and many more. He has music directed a number of major musicals including Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, Townsend's Tommy, The Rocky Horror Show and The Secret Garden.
​
Chuck just finished composing a number of original Music Videos, recording, consulting, riding his bicycle, PLAYING DRUMS, Guzheng, Cymbalom, teaching and enjoying life with his wonderful wife, Angela!
​
Bio by Steve Ellerman
Nashville