Charles began teaching music at PC in 1965, the first year the college became fully co-educational, and continued teaching until 1998. Before arriving at PC, he earned a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music from Illinois Wesleyan University. At the time he arrived at PC, Gaines was also working on a doctorate in conducting and musicology at the School of Sacred Music at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, earning the degree in 1971.

Gaines led the development of the PC music program over the years with courses in music appreciation, theory, church music, conducting, piano and voice, choir and music history. He became chair of the department of fine arts, which includes art, music and drama, and later became chair of music when each arts area grew to become independent.

Gaines received academic promotions over the years, first as assistant professor of music, then as a professor in the early ’90s and was later named Charles A. Dana Professor of Music.

In 1965, he founded the Presbyterian College Choir, replacing the Men’s Robed Choir. e choir performed three to four concerts each year, made appearances at special events on campus, and went on tour during Spring Break.

In 1966, Gaines began the Madrigal Singers, which consisted of 16 choir singers who entertained students in the dining hall by singing English and Italian madrigals. e group performed across the southeast beginning with the first Madrigal Dinner- Concert in December of 1966, and continuing until Gaines’ retirement. 

Gaines began an annual program entitled “Broadway Cabaret” in 1984, that consisted of tunes from Broadway shows and led the choir on several European tours. They traveled from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy all the way to churches in Scotland, Austria and Italy.

To honor his dedication to the Presbyterian College Choir, alumni of the choir established the Charles T. Gaines Music Scholarship when Gaines retired in 1998.

Gaines has been recognized by many leaders and organizations for his contributions to the arts community. He has been honored as Citizen of the Year by the Lions’ Club, received the Distinguished Service Award given by the PC Board of Visitors in 1976, and by order of Gov. Mark Sanford, was conferred e Order of the Silver Crescent in 2009, in recognition of his dedication and commitment for the bene t of South Carolina and its citizens. In 2012, the South Carolina Legislature recognized his leadership in a proclamation honoring his role in founding and directing the Greenwood Festival Chorale. e mayor of Greenwood also announced that June 15, 2012, would be officially known Charles T. Gaines Day, commemorating the day of his final concert.