Charles Ligus
ProfessionalMembership
Charles Ligus is a pianist, composer, arranger, and music director originally from Cleveland. He is a graduate of Bowling Green State University, where he received his Bachelor of Music Education with instrumental specialization. Mr. Ligus currently serves as music director and organist at Grace Lutheran Church in Fremont, Ohio where he regularly rehearses and accompanies a community choir for weekly services. In addition to his work in sacred music, he is an active freelance musician throughout the Toledo region, regularly collaborating with vocalists, instrumentalists, and theatre companies. He has served as music director for several local theatre organizations, including Perrysburg Musical Theatre, The Village Players, and Owens Community College, contributing as both a conductor and keyboardist for numerous stage productions. An accomplished collaborative pianist, Mr. Ligus received first prize in the Undergraduate Division of the 2024 Marjorie Conrad Art Song Competition alongside soprano Laney Mitchell. During his time at Bowling Green, he performed with several major ensembles including the BGSU Men’s Chorus, Collegiate Chorale, and the Falcon Marching Band. He also served as music director for the BGSU Musical Theatre Students’ 2026 Cabaret, a benefit performance supporting the national organization Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. In the summer of 2025, Ligus completed and recorded his first original musical, Like You, in collaboration with lyricist and librettist Tyler Milicic through a generous grant from BGSU’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship. The album is available on all major streaming platforms. In addition to his theatrical work, he has composed and arranged music for various Cleveland-based projects. He will join Toledo Opera as a resident artist for their 26-27 season. Mr. Ligus studied piano with Yevgeny Yontov, organ with Kevin Bylsma, and composition with Christopher Dietz.
