Longtime Hinsdale Central Jazz Director To Take Final Bow

The  Jazz Ensembles will perform for the final time under veteran director Jeff Waggoner Tuesday night.

Waggoner, who began teaching at Hinsdale Central 26 years ago after eight years teaching in Ohio at the high school and college level, announced in December that he would retire from directing at the end of the current school year. He also runs the high school's website and said he plans on going to work for a local IT company.

Waggoner, 56, directed the school's concert and marching bands in addition to the Jazz Ensembles until the 2006-2007 school year. 

He said preparing for his final concert feels "weird," but Waggoner couldn't quite put his finger on why.

He was sure of one thing, though.

"I don’t want anything to go wrong," the director said with a laugh. "I don’t get another chance with it; there’s not a do-over."

Tuesday’s concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Hinsdale Central auditorium, 5500 S. Grant St. Tickets are $2. 

Three Jazz Ensembles and two jazz combos will perform. Jazz Ensemble 3, Waggoner's top group, will headline the evening and perform five numbers, including one composed by Waggoner named "For Emily" after his oldest granddaughter.  

This year's top ensemble, Waggoner said, is an even mix of juniors and seniors. Last year's group was nearly all seniors.

"We've started from a different place," Waggoner said of the 2010-11 ensemble. "I’ve really been pleased with the growth I’ve seen. They seem really interested in playing well together."

Jeff Wirtz, Hinsdale Central's director of orchestras and music department chair, said he thinks the jazz students will look at Tuesday’s concert as a special one.

“They’re going to be coming into this not wanting to make any mistakes and to play their very best and put on a great show for [Waggoner],” Wirtz said.

Waggoner's accomplishments include multiple Superior awards at IHSA Large Group Contests and an invitation for the Jazz Ensemble 3 to perform at the University of Texas Jazz Festival, according to Hinsdale Central principal Michael McGrory.

Waggoner also took many ensembles to perform at Disney World, McGrory noted.

Waggoner came to Hinsdale Central in the 1980s after he and his wife decided they wanted a place to stay for good after moving between four positions during his eight years in Ohio.

"Hinsdale is one of those places where once you get there, you realize there's not really any place better," Waggoner said.

The director and his wife put two kids through Hinsdale Central. They graduated in 1995 and 1999 and both were students in the music program. While he won't be teaching music in the immediate future, Waggoner said music will remain a part of his life. He plays the trumpet and the bass.

"I can’t imagine just putting the horn in the closet and not playing again," he said. "That’s not going to happen."

Wirtz said the department is disappointed to lose Waggoner, but the jazz director’s colleagues are behind him.

“I think the mood is one of happiness for Jeff, that he’s going to be able to start to do some things that he’s interested in,” Wirtz said.

McGrory couldn’t calculate off the top of his head how many current faculty members have been around as long as Waggoner, but he said the director is “right up there” with the school’s longest-tenured. Flexibility, McGrory said, is one of the reasons Waggoner has been effective for so long.

“He just has really strong interpersonal skills and relates well to the students,” the principal said. “He really works hard to make sure each student has a quality experience.”

McGrory said the interview process is underway for Waggoner’s replacement and a decision will likely be made in the next two weeks.