Charlie Ollmann is President and CEO of the Music Connection. He along with others started the Music Connection in 1981. Before the creation of the Music Connection, Charlie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from St. Olaf College. Charlie then was a Music Educator for the Forest Lake Schools.

Not only is Charlie present at the Music Connection on a daily basis, but he also is the Senior Choir Director at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Forest Lake, MN and is also ‘Charlie O.’ Charlie O is an entertainer and dueling pianist. He produces and performs audience-driven shows for nightclubs and corporate events.

Charlie is very involved with the community and the encouragement of music within schools. One of his top goals is making sure that all children are exposed to music and have the opportunity to learn an instrument.

A blog and podcast would be an excellent venue for Charlie to share his expert advice and thoughts. Within these two venues, Charlie could share the importance of music education with children. Daily free mini-lessons through a podcast that children (or adults) could listen to would be a way for children to get familiarized with a particular instrument in the comforts of their own home. A blog would also be an excellent venue for Charlie to share tips and tricks to get children involved in music. He could share articles that explain the importance of music in children lives. A different musical instrument could be featured each blog post to show children the many, many instruments that are available. All of this would reach the target audience of children 7-12 years of age and their adult parents within the Forest Lake, MN area. This would all be tied back to encouraging children and their parents to visit the Music Connection to see and handle instruments in person and to sign up for music lessons after they select an instrument.