Founder's Day Celebration To Honor Music Teacher

For the past 54 years, Chuck Wackerman has been teaching music to students of all ages, and although he is 80 years old, he's not planning on retiring just yet.

During these decades of teaching, Wackerman has had a lasting impact on the Seal Beach community, helping to create and enhance local music groups while inspiring a new generation.

This Sunday at the 96^th annual Seal Beach Founder’s Day Celebration, Wackerman will be the guest of honor and will be surrounded by his current and former students. This year’s celebration, organizers said, will be much smaller than last year’s, but still very important. The celebration features a two-hour concert with musical performances from local high school and professional musicians in honor of Wackerman’s service to the community.

The concert by the pier celebration is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Seal Beach Pier. Admission is free. Among the groups scheduled to perform is the Los Al Jazz 1 and the Los Alamitos High School marching band. Notably, the Seal Beach Jazz Trio, a band comprised of his former students, will perform at the event.

The soft-spoken teacher has taught generations of local students to explore their love of music, and it seemed natural to honor his longstanding contributions to the community during the Founder’s Day celebration, said event organizers.

Libby Appelgate, publicity coordinator for the celebration, said that the decision to honor Wackerman in this year’s celebration was easy because of the great impact he’s had on the families in Seal Beach. And, by using the Internet and social media, the organizing committee has been able to spread the word about the event, and Appelgate said that many current and former students are expected to attend the event.

“This man has been an influence in all of our children’s lives,” Appelgate said. “[Students] are coming in from all over just to see Mr. Wackerman, their favorite music teacher.”

For his part, Wackerman continues to work simply for the love of teaching.

“I always knew I want to be a teacher,” Wackerman said. “I enjoy working with young students at all levels; every level is challenging and different.”

 Currently, Wackerman teaches jazz band at McAuliffe Middle School in Los Alamitos. In the past, though, he has taught elementary, junior high and high school band, orchestra and jazz bands. Several of his jazz band ensembles have even gone on to win awards.

While the city’s 100^th anniversary is still four years away, Appelgate said that plans for that celebration is already in the works and the committee is seeking volunteers to help coordinate the event. Ideally, she said, organizers want it to be much like the city’s initial celebration in 1915, which was a celebration on the beach, with tents, fireworks and dancing.

For more information about this year’s event, or to sign up as a volunteer for the 100^th celebration planning committee, visit sealbeachfoundersday.com or e-mail Appelgate at applelib@aol.com.