Hartford-born musician hails from a musical family

By John G. Funchion

A lifetime of music for Norfolk’s Charles Fidlar has taken him on a journey that ranged from singing and directing in world capitals to his current positions as choral director at Regional 7 and

Charles Fidlar, mentor of young musical talent.

music director of the Torrington Symphony.

Fidlar, a resident of Norfolk since taking his job at Regional 7 over 10 years ago, came by conducting almost naturally as a result of growing up with his musical parents in West Hartford. “I come from a family of musicians and always felt comfortable around orchestras,” he says.

His father, Willfred, was a concert violinist who toured the country with his pianist brother Paul. His mother, Dorothy, played principal cello for many years with the Hartford Symphony and was a professor of cello and ensemble at the Hartt School of Music. She was known as an “emotional, golden tone player,” Fidlar recalls, “while my father, who was an adjunct professor at Hartt and music instructor for the Hartford public high schools, usually did orchestrations.”

Aware of the financial risks of becoming a musician, Fidlar’s mother often told him:  “Don’t be a musician, be a banker and then buy the orchestra.”

Fidlar’s dream of becoming a violinist like his father was shattered when, at the age of 16, he nearly severed his left hand, which broke through a window he was cleaning at his parent’s summer music camp in Maine. To compensate for the loss, he became active in the Loomis High School Glee Club before graduating in 1957 to attend Cornell University.

He spent his first two years at Cornell studying chemistry and then switched to an English major with a minor in French It is what he did outside of the classroom that set the foundation for his musical career. He sang in a multiple of Cornell choral groups and studied voice with Dame Isobel Baillie and Sir Keith Faulkner.

He went on to earn his Master’s degree in conducting at the New England Conservatory of Music. Upon graduation, he was named assistant conductor of the Rhode Island Philharmonic and director of choral activities at Brown University. During summers in the late 1960s, Fidlar was known to perform 81 straight nights at Cape Cod’s Compass Lounge with the “Funtastics,” a group of singing waiters and waitresses.

In 1979 he moved to California for doctoral studies at Stanford University punctuated by conducting and singing stints with the Carmel Bach Festival and the American Bach Soloists. While there he met and married his wife, Marilyn and raised three children, Marilyn, Will and Elsa. The family remained in California for 17 years during which time he served as assistant to Vance George, conductor of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus.

Fidlar, who is known for his brilliant recall of music history and his colorful theatrics during rehearsals, considers the Torrington Symphony as “a great bridge for young people to other orchestras.” He is constantly recruiting talented instrumentalists and choral singers from area schools, often integrating them into productions with the orchestra. He is especially proud of two graduates of his Regional 7 choral program. Maura Valenti is now at Julliard and Allie Lurie is a professional singer with “Concora,” a Connecticut based choral group.

Under the baton of Charles Fidlar, the Torrington Symphony’s next performance will be the popular cabaret style “Pops ‘n Jazz” concert at the Cornucopia Banquet Hall, 371 Pinewoods Road, Torrington, on March 15 at 8 p.m. There will be a cash bar and food. Tickets are $15 and available at the door or call 542-5298.