Chuck Wackerman
Chuck Wackerman received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Science in Music Education from the University of Southern California. He has taught elementary, junior high and high school band, orchestra and jazz bands in the Seal Beach and Los Alamitos school districts. For nine years Chuck directed the jazz combos for the Orange County High School for the Arts. At both the middle and high school levels he has developed award winning jazz ensembles.
Beginning in 1970 Chuck started the Class Notes concerts, bringing prominent jazz artists to the community. Some of the artists who have performed are Frank Rosolino, Shelley Manne, Hampton Hawes, Carol Kaye, Ed Shaugnessy, Cat Anderson, Chuck Flores, Allan Holdsworth, Louie Bellson, Bill Watrous, Maynard Ferguson, Frank Capp, Tom Kubis and Bob Florence. Chuck has served as an auditioner, band manager and a director for the SCSBOA Junior High Jazz All Stars. He received the Irene Schoepfle award for his contributions to music education in Orange County. He also has been awarded the Jazz Educator of the Year from the Fullerton College Jazz Festival.
Currently he is teaching jazz band at McAuliffe Middle School in Los Alamitos. Mr. Wackerman’s Jazz Groups have always been great musical examples at jazz festivals thru out Ca. His own Children are also entrenched in Musical Careers and Chuck has certainly a pioneer and role model for jazz education in California. Chuck is celebrating his fifty third year of teaching instrumental music.