Charles T. Betz (Charlie or Char to friends) is a composer and lyricist living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Charles studied classical and jazz guitar, brass, music theory, and jazz arranging at the University of Minnesota and the University of North Texas. He has performed in a wide variety of styles and ensembles (classical, jazz, rock, worship, choral) and as a singer-songwriter.
He was the music director at Lake Harriet Spiritual Community (Minneapolis), 1995-1997, and wrote for the First Universalist Jazz Band.
Musical Theater Training
He recently completed the full year 2022-2023 Core curriculum at New Musicals, Incorporated. This culminated in the staging of his first musical, a 15-minute work entitled “IQ: The Musical” as part of a full evening program produced in Los Angeles (Replaced! Six Short Musicals About Obsolescence). He completed the second-year “First Draft” program, working with book writer Peter Welkin on an historical musical, The Womanless Wedding. He also was invited back to the Core program 2023-2024 as a guest composer.
Current Projects
Current projects include:
- Five Minutes On The Low Road - A musical exploring near-death experience, with book by Josiah Thomas Turner
- River Song - A choral work honoring the Mississippi River, premiered May 2025 by Crescendo Community Chorus in partnership with Friends of the Mississippi River
- Wild and Precious - An SATB choral piece based on Mary Oliver’s “The Summer Day”
Charles is interested in collaborating on spiritual and multiverse-themed musical theater projects and presenting at the Minnesota Fringe.
Memberships & Training
Charles is a member of:
- New Musical Theater Exchange in Minneapolis
- Minnesota Association of Songwriters
- The Playwrights Center
He has studied songwriting, composition, and music production with Diana Grasselli, Andrew Raiher, Peter Mayer, and with the faculty of SongU, and book writing with Elise Dewsberry and John Sparks of NMI. He is competent in Dorico and Logic Audio for arranging, part preparation, and production and is trained (to exacting NMI standards!) in the preparation of Broadway-quality integrated script/scores for musical theater.