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Charles H. Webb, Jr.
Pianist
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 On July 1, 1997, Charles H. Webb retired as Dean of the Indiana University School of Music, the world’s largest school of music. During his 24 years as Dean, the School of Music was named Number One in quality in three independent national surveys—“Change Magazine,” “Chronicle of Higher Education,” and “U. S. News and World Report.”
Appointed conductor of the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir in 1967, Webb has conducted the Choir and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in many choral works including Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, and Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms. In 1969, he directed the premiere of Dave Brubeck’s The Light in the Wilderness. In 1978, he prepared the chorus for Berlioz’s Requiem performances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.
At Indiana University, Webb has conducted performances of such major works as Berlioz’s L’Enfance du Christ, Handel’s Messiah, Verdi Requiem, as well as full-scale productions of Tchiakovsky’s Nutcracker, Delibes’ Coppelia, and Giordano’s opera Andrea Chenier. During the 1972-73 season, he conducted the Philharmonic Orchestra with Van Cliburn as piano soloist.
As a pianist, Webb has appeared as soloist on several occasions with the Dallas and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestras. With pianist Wallace Hornibrook, a faculty member of the IU School of Music, toured coast to coast playing duo-piano recitals and concerts with major orchestras. The duo team played a concert tour of 16 recitals in Australia during June 1973. He has also appeared as pianist with many School of Music faculty artists, among them, Josef Gingold, violin; Janos Starker, cello; Margaret Harshaw, soprano; Reri Grist, soprano; James Pellerite, flute; Harvey Phillips, tuba; Patricia Wise, soprano; and many others. He has appeared with Mr. Phillips in two Carnegie Recital Hall concerts.
In 2004 Dr. Webb was appointed by Colin Powell to a Congressional Committee to Advise the Secretary of State on Cultural Diplomacy. In July of that year he was named a Living Legend of the State of Indiana by the Indiana Historical Society.
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