Charlie Jessup has been a flutist in the Kansas City Civic Orchestra since 1972. He grew up in the Boston/New York area. For most of his early life he and his parents lived in a rural part of Long Island, N.Y., about 90 miles East of New York City. When it was time in school to think about playing a musical instrument his parents explained that since they lived in a trailer, he could not bring home a large instrument like a string bass or a trombone. He was advised to think about an instrument that comes in a small case. When he went to school he listened to various instruments. When he heard the flute, it was like music from heaven – and it came in a small case! He began playing the flute in the 6th grade.
When Charlie was in high school, he thought of being a professional flutist in a symphony orchestra. However, when he learned about the extreme competition to get a position in an orchestra, he decided music could be his main avocation. He decided to turn to health care as an occupation and thought helping people see better with Optometry would be a good choice. He eventually attended the Optometry school at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, where he received his Doctor of Optometry Degree. After graduation he joined the Air Force, and that brought him to the Richards-Gebaur Air Base in Belton, MO.
While in the Kansas City area, he contacted the UMKC Conservatory and began studying with Jim Hamilton, who was one of the flutists in the Kansas City Symphony. Charlie studied with Jim about ten years. In the early 1970’s Charlie joined both the Overland Park Orchestra and the Kansas City Civic Orchestra and has continually played in both orchestras. One of his super powers is doubling on the piccolo. In addition to his orchestral playing, he has been flute soloist at a wide variety of churches and synagogues in the Kansas City Area. In addition to music and Optometry, he enjoys travel, hiking in the western National Parks, photography and is fluent in French. He is now the longest playing member of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra!