 Charles L. Miller is Director of Middle School Bands for the Music In Catholic Schools in Omaha, Nebraska. An avid music performer and educator, he frequently conducts two sixty-piece bands and one sixty-five-piece Honor Band. Equally versed in Gospel and Jazz repertoire, he is Minister of Music at Freestone Baptist Church.
He has worked tireless to serve the Omaha Community for nearly twenty five years, teaching music to high-risk youth at the formerly named North Omaha Boys' Club and Flanagan High School.
In 2004, Professor Miller received an honorary day at The North Omaha Boys and Girls' Club, which help to celebrate his contributions to the Omaha Community. His plaque reads: "Dedicated to Professor Chuck Miller in recognition to your commitment and dedication to the countless lives you have touched through music in our community."In addition to teaching at the elementary and high school levels, as an Adjunct Professor of The Department of Black Studies, Miller taught for five years at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. There he also co- authored a book with Dr. James L. Conyers Jr. and others in titled: African American Jazz and Rap: Social and Philosophical Examinations of Black Expressive Behavior, ISBN 0-7864-0828-6.In the summer of 2003, Miller was inducted into The McRae High School Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in music. The event was held in Prescott, Arkansas. Other recipients of the prestigious award include Anita Pointer of the famous "Pointer Sisters'" vocal group. To be inducted into the Music Hall of Fame is the School's highest honor for those who have raised the standard of music excellence.
When Arnie Lawrence, saxophone player who has performed with Chico Hamilton, Clark Terry, Doc Severson and The Former Tonight Show Band and many others first heard trumpeter Chuck Miller at a jazz workshop at the University of Nebraska in Omaha, he was surprised to find such great talent there. Since then, Miller has gone on to graduate from The University of Nebraska in Omaha, The University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska, attended the famous Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts for a year and finally went on to graduate on the same stage with world renowned trumpeter, Wynton Marsalis at Mason Gross School Of Music in Rutgers University.
Miller was the first African American student to receive the Bachelors of Music Degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He has performed with many local groups which are as follows: The New Breed Of Soul which featured rhythm guitarist Vaughn Richard Chatman and lead guitarist Herman Franklin, The Persuaders, Master Chazz, Poverty's Movement and The Chuck Miller Quintet Plus One to name a few. These groups frequently opened for Jazz Masters Organist Jimmy Smith, Guitarist Kenny Burrell, Saxophonist Grover Washington , the Famous Dazz Band and Soul group New Edition, featuring vocalist Bobby Brown.
Miller toured the USA with Harvey Brooks and The Fabulous Rhinestones of Woodstock, New York. In addition to recording with this group, he also recorded an album with blues musician Paul Butterfield and His Blues Band.
He is a member of the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association, Music Educator's National Conference, The Chicago River Primitive Baptist Association and the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE).
Miller released a jazz CD in 2003 in titled, "Changes For Tena." Jazz trumpeter Riley Mullins an alumnus of Legendary Jazz/Classical Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis' group is prominently featured. You can purchase a copy of this CD over the web at: www.cdbaby.com/chuckmiller. The driving force behind this CD project was his wife, Mrs. Chestene Roberson Miller (a.k.a. Tena). Miller is quickly to say that; "God has truly blessed me to have been involved in music this long, I am totally happy with my life".
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