The family of Charles C. Aschbrenner

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Charles C. Aschbrenner, age 79, of Holland, died Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016.

Charles, an Adjunct Professor Emeritus of Music, taught for 53 years at Hope College. He has lectured and adjudicated in addition to performing both as soloist and collaborative pianist throughout Michigan and the Midwest as well as in Mexico, Portugal, France and Russia. His piano students have entered graduate programs across the country and into careers in teaching, performance, church music, music theater, and opera direction worldwide. With degrees from the University of Illinois and Yale University, Aschbrenner continued studies with renowned teachers Nadia Boulanger in France and Adele Marcus in New York City. Also licensed Dalcroze Instructor, he has taught eurhythmics at Hope College for thirty years. Extensively trained in the techniques of Taubman, Alexander and Feldenkrais, Aschbrenner has been intensely interested in the issues movement, rhythm, and physical freedom in performance. His innovative presentation “Pulse Patterning for Pianists,” (pulsepatterning. com) first given nationally at the 1993 MTNA convention in Spokane, has continued to evolve and serves as a basis for article, a website and presentations at regional and international conferences, most recently in Novi Sad, Serbia.

Charles studied Oboe with Ray Stills of the Chicago Symphony and was a founding member of the Hour of Power Eagles Club and long-time supporter. He was involved in NMTA-National Music Teachers Association, MMTA-Michigan Music Teachers Association, EPTA-European Piano Teachers Association, Board of Trustees of the Dalcroze Society of America, Life Member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Life Member of MU Phi Epsilon.

Born on Nov. 19, 1936, in Oak Park, IL. Charles was the son of Henry Gustav Aschbrenner and Myrtle Emma Krueger Aschbrenner.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Robert Aschbrenner.

Charles is survived by his spouse, Chris T. Spencer, whom he married Sept. 7, 2016, after 39 years of companionship; his sister-in-law, Mary Aschbrenner; nephew and nieces, Roger and Katrina Aschbrenner, Debbie and Brad Stanger, Karen and Ron Johnson; many cousins.

More on the career of Charles Aschbrenner is available in the September 20, 2016 Hope College press release.

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