Charles "Charlie" Geyer ’66, a renowned Bienen School of Music alumnus and former professor of trumpet, died June 11, 2024, at age 79.

Geyer received his Bachelor of Arts in Music degree from the Northwestern School of Music in 1966 as a student of Vincent Cichowicz. While attending Northwestern, he performed as principal trumpet with the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra. He joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra following his graduation and served as a member of the CSO trumpet section from 1966 until 1978. He was also principal trumpet of the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra. Beginning in 1978, he served for three seasons as principal trumpet of the Houston Symphony.

In the fall of 1998, Geyer and his wife, fellow trumpeter and Bienen alumna Barbara Butler ’74, joined the Bienen School faculty as professors of trumpet. They taught at Northwestern for 15 years until 2013. At the time of his death, Geyer was a faculty member of the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. He had previously taught at the Eastman School of Music and the American Conservatory of Music. 

Geyer was a frequent recitalist and soloist with orchestras and music festivals throughout the world. He received the 2024 International Trumpet Guild Honorary Award, ITG’s most prestigious award, recognizing his many contributions to the trumpet community and to the world. He is survived by his wife and their daughter Jorie.

Photo: Geyer (center, back) performs William Walton's Façade in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall on January 16, 2011, as part of the Winter Chamber Music Festival.