AERO QUARTET
Hailing from Olney Maryland, Charles (Chad) Lilley is a dynamic classical saxophonist and pedagogue currently based in Kansas City, MO. Described as a “Superstar performer” (Pulitzer Prize Finalist, Augusta Read Thomas) and a “Major talent” (GRAMMY winner, Kenneth Fuchs), Charles prides himself on championing the work of living and underrepresented composers. Over the course of his career, he has performed at some of the Nation’s most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, L.A.’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, Tanglewood’s Seiji Ozawa Hall, Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, Chicago’s Millennium Stage, and Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. Most recently, he gave his NY solo debut recital as a part of Carnegie Hall’s Well-Being concert series, forming unique connections between live music performance, spoken word, and audience mindfulness.
As a competitor, Charles received First Prize at the 2021 Northwestern University Concerto Competition, where he performed as soloist with Symphonic Orchestra in March 2022. At the 2017 Arosa Kultur Academy, Charles was awarded the International ‘Hans Schaeuble’ award which included his debut International Solo Recital in Switzerland. Other awards include top prizes at the 2022 North American Saxophone Alliance Solo Competition, the 2015 President’s Own U.S. Marine Band Concerto Competition, and the 2015 National YoungArts Foundation, where he was named a Finalist and one of twenty Nationally recognized U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts.
Orchestral highlights include contracted performances with Miami’s New World Symphony and the Ann Arbor Symphony, as well as The Juilliard Orchestra and their AXIOM New-Music Ensemble, where he is on staff as a Collegiate Guest Artist. In the summer of 2018, Charles embarked on a premier studio recording project of the new critical editions of Gershwin’s symphonic music with the National Orchestral Institute, culminating in three CDs that are now released on the NAXOS American Classics Label. These experiences led him to completing his dissertation on the subject matter, titled: A Performer’s Guide to Orchestral Saxophone Playing, which is the first resource of its kind for the symphonic minded saxophonist.
As a pedagogue, he most recently held the positions of Instructor of Saxophone at William Jewell College, Visiting Professor of Saxophone at the University of Kansas (Spring 2025), and Visiting Instructor of saxophone at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (Spring 2024). Dr. Lilley presents yearly at National and International conferences, and has helped students go on to win collegiate and high school concerto competitions, achieve top rankings at district and state solo festivals, and win positions in regionally and nationally auditioned ensembles.
An in-demand guest artist, Dr. Lilley has been invited to teach at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Kansas, MidAmerica Nazarene University, Lawrence College Conservatory, and the University of Memphis. He has additionally been invited to teach at Interlochen Arts Academy.
Charles’ holds degrees from the University of Michigan (BM), Northwestern University (MM), and UMKC Conservatory (DMA), with primary teachers including Dr. Timothy McAllister, Professor Taimur Sullivan, and Professor Zach Shemon, respectively.