The Florida Division of Cultural Affairs announced Chuck as one of two composers selected to receive the State’s Individual Artist Fellowship.  This is the third time he has been honored with this award.

Chuck was honored and humbled to serve as the Chair of an extremely distinguished panel that helped select Kevin Puts’ Silent Nights: Opera in Two Acts as the recipient of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize in Music..  A stirring opera that recounts the true story of a spontaneous cease-fire among Scottish, French and Germans during World War I, Puts’ work was commissioned and premiered by the Minnesota Opera.  The panel included previous Pulitzer recipient, Jennifer Higdon; Carnegie Hall Director of Artistic Planning, Jeremy Geffen; Music Editor of Time Out New York, Steven Smith; and Jazz Pianist/Composer, Kenny Werner.

In a ceremony at the Lifsey House, Chuck was recognized as the USF Phi Kappa Phi “Artist Scholar of the Year”.  In addition to accepting the award, Chuck gave a brief speech about his creative efforts and certain traits he had found valuable throughout his career.

Chuck’s arrangement of Dave Liebman’s “Off Flow” is included on this outstanding big band release that features the NEA Jazz Master himself.  The Jazz Surge had previously recorded the work on “Here We Are”.