Chief Warrant Officer Five Charles H. Vollherbst

CWO Charles H. Vollherbst

Associate Conductor

Director, The U.S. Army Blues

Chief Warrant Officer Five Charles H. Vollherbst is a native of Maplewood, New Jersey, and serves as the Director of The U.S. Army Blues. Vollherbst studied percussion at SUNY Oneonta and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Music from Regents College, Albany, New York, and a Master of Music degree in conducting from Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.

Vollherbst entered the Army in 1978 and was assigned as a percussionist with the 36th Army Band, Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and the 79th Army Band, Fort Clayton, Panama, before attending the Warrant Officer Bandmaster Course in 1987. Upon graduation, he was assigned as the Commander of the 7th Infantry Division (Light) Band, Fort Ord, California, and later the 1st Armored Division Band, Bad Kreuznach, Germany. He led the latter organization on a year-long deployment to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Bosnia-Hercegovina where the band performed 300 jobs in 300 days. Vollherbst returned to the United States as the Commander of the 392nd Army Band at Fort Lee, Virginia, followed by assignment as the Staff Bands Officer for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Virginia.

As director of The U.S. Army Blues, Vollherbst has shared the stage with such jazz notables as Doc Severinsen, James Moody, Marlena Shaw, Slide Hampton, and others. He has appeared as a guest conductor with symphonies, college ensembles, community bands, and high school honors bands. He was awarded the honorary Order of St. Martin award and is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society.

Chief Vollherbst’s military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal, the NATO Medal, the German Army “Leistungsabzeichen” (Gold), and the Air Assault Badge.

Updated Wednesday, June 17, 2009 2:49 PM | Chief Warrant Officer Five Charles H. Vollherbst