American Music Abroad program was highly influential in shaping Charlie's inclusive view of music.

Mr. Porter has toured the world as a side-man and band-leader in jazz and also as a classical soloist and chamber musician, performing and recording with many notable musicians and groups over the last twenty years ranging from jazz greats like Joe Zawinul, Paquito D’Rivera, Charli Persip and Chuck Israels to classical artists such as Joyce DiDonato, Simone Dinnerstein and Sarah Chang, as well as world music greats Goran Bregovic, Bassekou Kouyate, Marcel Khalife and Kim Duksoo, among many others.Mr. Porter holds degrees from The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of music in jazz and classical performance.

As a composer he has been commissioned by Chamber Music America and Doris Duke Foundation.