Raised in a very musical family, whose father, Joseph dePasquale, the former Principal Violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Charles started cello lessons at an early age with his uncle Francis dePasquale, a former cellist in the Philadelphia Orchestra. He also studied with; Samuel Mayes, William Stokking, Orlando Cole, and Mihaly Virizlay.
Throughout his extensive professional performance career, Charles has played with several known music organizations in the area. They include; the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Philly Pops, the Concerto Soloists, the Delaware Symphony, and the Allentown Symphony. Aside from the Ocean City Pops, he also currently performs with the Reading Symphony, the Kennett Symphony and his own chamber group, the Main Line Chamber Players.
Charles just recently retired after 30 years in the West Chester Area School District. His primary responsibilities had him directing, and coaching several of the secondary orchestra programs, which also included directing an award winning extra-curricular high school string ensemble, The West Chester Senior Strings. Charles also taught at both Immaculata University, for 11 years, as the String Ensemble director and String Methods instructor and at Ursinus
College, for 3 years, as the String Ensemble director.
His education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from the New School of Music (a private conservatory that is now part of Temple University), Graduate studies at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, MD and the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts (now called the University of the Arts), PA Teachers Certification from West Chester University and a Masters Degree in Music Therapy from Immaculata University.