Charles Noble has been Assistant principal viola of the Oregon Symphony since 1995. He holds degrees from the University of Puget Sound, the University of Maryland, and the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University, where his primary teachers were Joyce Ramée, Joseph de Pasquale, Michael Tree, and Roberto Díaz. As a member of the Oregon Symphony he as appeared as soloist in works of Mozart, Bach, Castaldo, and Bruch. Charles has also appeared as soloist with the Tacoma Youth Symphony, Vermont Youth Orchestra, Olympia Symphony, Sunriver Festival Orchestra, and the Rose City Chamber Orchestra.
In addition to his orchestral work, Charles is an active chamber musician, performing as a member the Pyxis string quartet, 45th Parallel Universe, and the Oregon Symphony Players’ Classical Up Close concert series.
During the summer months Charles performs with the Oregon Bach Festival and the Willamette Valley Chamber Music Festival. He has performed at the 2002, 2004, and 2006 International Viola Congress recitals, and was a participant in the 2015 Bang on a Can Marathon in New York City.
Away from the viola Charles can be found riding his bike, reading, enjoying Oregon craft beer and wines, and cooking with his wife Stephanie and their two cats.
He plays on a 1997 viola by Gabrielle Kundert and a 2018 Darrell Hanks bow.