Dr. Charles Weise teaches 5th grade band in Edina, MN and holds degrees from the University of St. Thomas and Penn State University. Previous teaching positions have included both high school and elementary level band programs. Dr. Weise is the founder and conductor of the Minnesota Junior Winds, a non-profit featuring honor band ensembles for students in and around the Twin Cities metro area. Dr. Weise’s ensembles have been selected to play at the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) Midwinter Clinic in 2013, 2016, & 2023 as well as the Wisconsin Chapter of National Band Association convention in 2018. He has also served as director of community bands, and is in demand as a clinician and guest conductor. He is a National Board Certified teacher.
Dr. Weise has presented on a variety of music education topics including repertoire selection, young teacher transitions, and chamber music in the classroom at regional and national clinics including the Wind Band Institute, MMEA Midwinter Clinic, the Thompson Symposium for Research in Music Education and the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. Dr. Weise has also been a supporter of new music, commissioning Erika Svanoe, Yukiko Nishimura, Christopher Lowry, Jodie Blackshaw, Katherine Bergman, Kevin Day, Salvador Alan Jacobo, Kimberly Archer, Carol Brittin Chambers, Ethan Freier, Lane Powell, Jack Stamp, Stephanie Berg, and Victoriano Valencia and supporting consortiums for composers such as Josh Trentadue, Katahj Copley, Marie Douglas, Shelley Hanson, Rolf Rudin, Benjamin Yeo, John Mackey, and Daniel Bukvich.
Dr. Weise is an active member of MBDA (Minnesota Band Directors Association) for which he chairs the Young Band Literature Session (YBLS), New Teacher Conference and is a Past-President of the state organization. He is also a member of the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA), National Band Association (NBA), and American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA). In 2012, he received the ‘Distinguished Young Band Director Award’ from ASBDA and in 2018 received the NBA Citation of Excellence.