For Trinity High School student Charlie Vonderheide, music is not just a hobby, it is a way of life. A member of both the Louisville Youth Orchestra and Trinity’s liturgy band, Charlie fills his days with rhythm, creativity, and energy. The talented sophomore lives in Lake Forest with his parents, Kara and Dan, and his older sisters, Mary Claire, a student at the University of Kentucky, and Olivia, who attends Centre College.

The Vonderheide family has called Lake Forest home for five years, and it is here that Charlie’s creative spirit has truly taken off. He participates in the Louisville Youth Orchestra’s percussion and symphonic winds ensembles, plays in Trinity’s liturgy band, and joins seasonal drama productions through the school’s theatre program. He also finds time for Beta Club, the Kentucky Youth Assembly, the Kentucky United Nations Assembly, and even intramural sports.

Outside of school, Charlie works as a server at The Forum Retirement Community, and this past summer, he added “entrepreneur” to his resume by launching Charlie Does Things, a neighborhood service business offering lawn care, childcare, odd jobs, and even live musical entertainment for Lake Forest residents.

Charlie’s love of music began early. “I have been drumming since I came out of the womb,” he joked. After taking part in School of Rock and exploring different instruments, he dove deeper into music theory and performance at Trinity. His band instructor connected him with a percussion teacher who introduced him to the Louisville Youth Orchestra, where he continues to refine his skills and grow as a musician.

But Charlie’s creativity is not limited to music. After seeing a school play in third grade, he decided to give acting a try and has been hooked ever since. In addition to acting in Trinity’s Shamrock Series, one of his proudest moments came when a short play he wrote was accepted into the series last year.

When asked what he loves most about performing, Charlie says it is all about connecting with people. He has played shows with School of Rock and performs regularly with LYO, but his favorite experiences have been his solo shows. Using a looper pedal, multiple instruments, and vocal effects, he creates layered performances that are uniquely his own. “I have found a great deal of joy in being my own band,” he shared. (You can find his music on Instagram at @poster__band.)

Charlie is also proud of his academic success. He recently earned a Shamrock Award for maintaining honor roll status throughout all four quarters of his freshman year. He attributes his success to finding balance and knowing when to take a step back. “It was a hard decision, but in high school I gave up organized sports that took up a lot of my time. Rest is important. I try to leave space so my brain can really focus on what I need to do, as long as it gets done on time.”

If there is one word to describe Charlie, it is versatile. He plays drums, guitar, bass, keys, marimba, gong, and even a bit of harmonica. Largely self-taught, he grew up learning music by ear and now pairs that natural creativity with an understanding of the theory behind it. “Now that I’m learning the theory and math behind the music, I have more of a creative edge,” he said.

Charlie credits his dad as his biggest inspiration. “He’s been playing music my whole life and introduced me to my love for it. He challenges me to be excellent every day so I can reach my full potential, whether that’s academically, musically, or athletically.”

Looking ahead, Charlie hopes to attend Governor’s School for the Arts for percussion and eventually study audio technology and production in college. His dream is to one day own his own recording studio, where he can create and collaborate with other artists.

With his talent, work ethic, and enthusiasm for learning, there is no doubt that this young achiever is already on his way to making big noise — in the best way possible.