Charles R. Snyder is a Columbus, Ohio native and a graduate of Coshocton High School. He received his musical training at Capital University, Columbus, where he was a protégé of Ellis E. Snyder, a soloist with the University’s famed touring Chapel Choir, and, for two years, the student assistant to Dr. Snyder in the voice department. In 1969, he served the Chapel Choir as associate conductor.

Mr. Snyder has completed further musical study at Kent State University, Augsburg College, Eastern Carolina University, Grove City College, Bemidji State University, East Stroudsburg State University, Pennsylvania State University, the State University of New York, VanderCook College of Music, Lutheran Theological Seminary and Westminster Choir College. He has studied with Daniel Moe, Leland Sateren, Richard C. Johnston, Clayton Krehbiel, Jean Berger, Fred Waring, Norman Luboff, Helen Kemp, John Rutter, Frauke Haasemann, Sir David Willcocks, Donald Neuen, Sandra Willetts, Anton Armstrong, Ann Howard Jones, James Gallagher, Alice Parker, Eph Ehly, Craig Arnold, Eric Nelson, Weston Noble and Paul Christiansen. In 1982, Mr. Snyder spent a fall sabbatical studying with Dr. Christiansen at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota.

In 1977, following six years as a public school vocal and instrumental music educator for grades 1-12, he became a staff member at The Presbyterian Church, Coshocton. Over the years his assignments have included the congregation’s education and youth ministries in addition to music. A church musician in Lutheran, United Methodist, United Church of Christ and Presbyterian congregations in central Ohio, Mr. Snyder is currently in his forty-third year of music ministry.

Mr. Snyder has been a contest adjudicator and a clinician for the Ohio Choral Directors Association as well as area high schools and colleges. He has been a musical theatre director, a guest conductor for all-county festivals and OMEA district honor choirs, and has conducted the chorus at Scouting’s Order of the Arrow national conferences. Mr. Snyder has also been a contributor to Music Performance Resources and Reformed Liturgy and Music, the journal of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, and has served as music editor for Progressions, a periodical for church musicians.

A faculty member of Muskingum College’s annual Choral Youthfest since 1994, he has also been a member of Muskingum’s voice faculty. In the spring of 2005, Mr. Snyder was on a sabbatical from his responsibilities with the Community Choirs, The Presbyterian Church and the All-Ohio Youth Choir. For those months he was on the Muskingum campus, teaching voice and serving as director of choral studies during the sabbatical of professor Robert Owen Jones. He was inducted into Muskingum’s chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia in 2005.

In the spring of 1992, he was chosen in a state-wide search as the conductor for the 200-voice All-Ohio Youth Choir. Identifying him as the most influential teacher in their academic careers, former Youth Choir Cardinal Chorale members nominated him for inclusion in Who’s Who Among American Teachers, 2000 and 2005. In May, 2000, Mr. Snyder was selected as one of the first five recipients of the Ovation Award, presented by the Vocal Arts Resource Network to honor those who instill and inspire love of vocal music in Ohio.

Mr. Snyder’s contributions in the area of youth leadership have been recognized with the presentation of Scouting’s Silver Beaver Award, the Distinguished Service Award from the national Order of the Arrow, and the God and Service  Award for distinguished service to youth and the church. This spring, he received the Community Music Educator Award from the Columbus Symphony; in July, he was inducted into the Ohio State Fair’s Hall of Fame.