KENT — Charles E. Hamlen, 75, founder of the charity Classical Action: Performing Arts Against AIDS and a co-founder of IMG Artists of New York City, one of classical music’s leading management agencies, died on Aug. 1, 2018, at his home in Manhattan.
Charlie helped build the careers not only of Joshua Bell but also the violinist Leila Josephowitz and the pianists Evgeny Kissin and Jean-Yves Thibaudet.
Born on July 9, 1943, in Schenectady, N.Y., he was the son of the late Richard King Hamlen and Caroline Schuyler Jenkins Hamlen.
He began his career as a French teacher at the Nichols School in Buffalo, N.Y., where he also founded and played in the Nichols Piano Quartet with members of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1977 he moved to New York City, where he founded IMG Artists with Edna Landau. He later served as artistic advisor with St. Luke’s Orchestra in New York and the Tippett Rise music festival in Montana.
Mr. Hamlen is survived by his two sisters, Ann S. Goldsmith of Buffalo and Katharine Reed of Gaylordsville, Conn.; three nephews, four nieces and several great-nieces and -nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Richard King Hamlen Jr.
A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Kent, the Rev. Roger White officiating.
To send the family an online condolence, go to www.hufcutfuneralhome.com.
