Charles Wadsworth, the acclaimed pianist and namesake of Newnan’s Charles Wadsworth Auditorium, died Thursday in Manhattan. He was 96.

Wadsworth’s influence spanned continents and generations. He founded the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in 1969 at the invitation of Lincoln Center president William Schuman and served as its artistic director for 20 seasons.

He also led the Spoleto Festival USA’s chamber music series from its inception in 1977 through 2009, and launched the original Spoleto Festival’s Midday Concerts in Italy in 1960—performances that helped redefine the genre's reach and appeal.

Known for his genial stage presence and disarming wit, Wadsworth helped make chamber music accessible to broader audiences, premiering more than 60 commissioned works by composers such

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