Charles Dodsley Walker, founder and conductor of Canterbury Choral Society, was born in New York City in 1920, but grew up in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. From earliest childhood, Charlie adored music and exhibited rare musical gifts.  A passion for the organ, for Western European and American church music as well as for secular music continued to inform his education:  after graduating from Trinity College with a Bachelor of Science degree in modern languages, he moved immediately to the Graduate School of Music at Harvard University, but his graduate work was suspended in 1942 by an extended four year tour of duty with the United States Navy during World War II.  After being from the navy in 1946 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander, Charlie returned to Harvard where he studied theory and conducting; simultaneously, he resumed his pre-war positions as organist and choirmaster of the Harvard-Radcliffe Choir of Christ Church, Cambridge, and of St. John's Methodist Church in Watertown, Connecticut. In 1947, after receiving both his Harvard Master of Arts degree and a certificate as Fellow of the American Guild of Organists, Charlie served for a year as Organist of St. Thomas Chapel in New York City and as Director of Music at his alma mater, Trinity School.

After a year in New York, during which he served at St. Thomas Chapel (now All Saints’ Church) and as head of the music department oat Trinity School, he accepted the post of organist/choirmaster of the American Cathedral in Paris, making his debut as an orchestral conductor in that city.  As an organ recitalist, he toured extensively in Europe, and with his late wife, soprano Janet Hayes Walker, performed throughout West Germany under the auspices of the U.S. State Department.

Mr. Walker returned from Europe to become organist/choirmaster of the Church of the Heavenly Rest.  During his 38 years in that post, he oversaw the fund-raising, design, and installation of the church’s 8,000-pipe organ; founded the Canterbury Choral Society; and developed a boy choir which appeared many times on coast-to-coast television programs.

For over twenty-five years Charlie was a member of the National Executive Committee of the American Guild of Organists, including four years as National President.  He served on the faculties of the Union Theological Seminary School of Sacred Music, New York University, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Chapin School.  Also known as an expert on Gilbert and Sullivan, he conducted all 13 of their operas during his 35 years as music director of the Blue Hill Troupe.  He helped to launch the Berkshire Choral Festival (formerly the Berkshire Choral Institute) and served as its dean and music director for ten years.  From 1988-2007, he was organist/choir director at Trinity Church, Southport, Connecticut.  He retains the title of Organist/Choirmaster Emeritus of the Church of the Heavenly Rest.