Charles Horton

• BMus, University of Redlands
• MMus, University of North Carolina

Associate Professor Charles Horton joined the staff of the University of Manitoba's School of Music in 1980 following graduate work in piano at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and in music theory at The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. In recent years, he has taught piano, theory, analysis, history, aural skills and chamber music at the University of Manitoba. From 1996 to 2002, he participated in the Académie Franco-Américaine in Vaison-la-Romaine, France, giving concerts and teaching on the piano faculty.

He is co-author, with University of Manitoba colleague the late Lawrence Ritchey, of a music theory textbook and accompanying workbook, published in 2000 by Scarecrow Press. The text, entitled, Harmony Through Melody, covers the first two years of university music theory, integrating the study of melody, counterpoint, harmony and form using both historical and innovative pedagogical methodology in presentation and in the compositional assignments. The text includes over 1200 musical examples, many composed by former students at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Music. Professor Horton and Associate Professor David Byrne recently updated Harmony Through Melody, and the revised edition was published in 2020.

Professor Horton’s piano students have won numerous awards, including performance competitions at the University of Manitoba, in Winnipeg and in regional concerto performances in the United States. Prof. Horton is a frequent adjudicator in Winnipeg and in music festivals in Manitoba and Ontario.

Professor Horton is the founding music director (and member of the alto section) of All The King’s Men, a male-voice liturgical choir, associated with the College Chapel of St. John the Evangelist at the University of Manitoba. The choir began as an independent, itinerant choir in 1997, traveling to parishes within Winnipeg and beyond, introducing congregations to the rich tradition of Latin and English choral music for men’s voices within the context of the Anglican services of Evensong and Compline. The choir is affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music. In the summer of 2001, the choir toured cathedrals and great churches in the North East of England, and in the summer of 2004, they returned to England for weeklong residencies at Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Winchester Cathedral, as well as one Evensong service at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford.

As a pianist, Horton has given many concert performances of music for piano four-hands with Irena Lichnowska. These performances have included standards of the repertoire, as well as accompaniments for silent film, choral programs and original chamber works for violin, cello and piano duet. The Horton/Lichnowska Duo has performed in Europe, Canada, and the United States, including a New York performance in June of 2000.

The duo has often joined forces with soprano Thérèse Costes to present a French cabaret program of songs, dance music, film and dialogue. In July 2000, their trio performance in France received a warm reception from the French audience and an enthusiastic review in the Avignon newspaper. In May of 2000, the Horton/Lichnowska Duo was awarded a Manitoba Arts Council, Professional Development Grant.

• 1998 University of Manitoba Student Recognition Teaching Award
• 2001 University of Manitoba Student Recognition Teaching Award

Beginning in 2018, Professor Horton collaborated with Dr. David Byrne to create a revised edition of Harmony Through Melody, which was published in 2020.

Professor Horton continues to tour with All the King's Men, most recently in England.