Israel Charles

Israel Charles currently serves as the Artistic Director at Dillard Center for the Visual & Performing Arts Magnet High School Magnet Program in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  The Beaumont, Texas native has served Broward County Public Schools as a music educator for the past 31 years.

He began his musical studies at the age of six, playing the drums following in the footsteps of his father, the late Ervin Charles, who was an accomplished Blues guitarist in Southeast Texas.  By age 12 he was playing professionally in his father’s band.  After graduating from Hebert High School, he was accepted to Grambling State University on a music scholarship.  While at Grambling, Mr. Charles was a section leader and music arranger for the World Famed Grambling Tiger Marching Band.   He also served as Vice President of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.

Upon completion of his Bachelor’s degree in Music Theory and Composition from Grambling, Mr. Charles enjoyed successful tenures as Director of Bands at Ramblewood Middle School and Stranahan High School, where his peers twice selected him as “Teacher Of The Year” respectively before accepting the position of Commercial Instructor at Dillard High in 2003.  During his time as a band director, Mr. Charles’ Marching, Concert and Jazz Bands earned Superior Ratings at the district level with his Jazz Ensemble receiving Superior honors at the State Music Assessment in 2001.  Mr. Charles has also served as The FBA District 15 Chairman, as well as chair of the FBA All State Jazz Band selection committee.

In 2003 Mr. Charles was accepted into the Master’s degree program at Florida Atlantic University, where he graduated with a Master’s of Music degree in Commercial Music with an emphasis on Film Composition.  Upon his graduation from FAU, Mr. Charles gained notoriety when one of the songs he produced for recording artist Rachel Brown as a part of his masters thesis climbed to #1 on the Billboard R&B Singles Sales Chart in April of 2007.

Currently Mr. Charles is the Artistic Director for Dillard Center for the Arts Visual & Performing Arts Magnet High School.   He also serves as CEO of Urban Music Group Records and Publishing where he continues to write and produce music for recording artist, film and television productions.  Mr. Charles recently inked a deal with MTV Networks for music to be placed on reality shows on both the MTV and VH1 networks.

Mr. Charles and his wife of 23 years Brenda, reside in Lauderhill, Florida where they attend New Mount Olive Baptist Church.  He is a member of Omega Psi Fraternity Inc., Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity and he is a 32nd Degree Master Mason.