There Comes a Time

As a room full of young jazz musicians rehearsed last week at Soquel High School, longtime band director Jim Stewart offered a piece of advice that could just as easily describe his own career.

“Sometimes a budding soloist will lose energy, but you have to keep that energy up,” Stewart told his students.

For 30 years, Stewart has done exactly that—bringing relentless enthusiasm, creativity and dedication to one of Santa Cruz County’s most celebrated music programs. This spring, the beloved teacher will conduct his final performances before retiring from Soquel High, closing a remarkable chapter that transformed a struggling school band into an award-winning powerhouse recognized across the nation.

Stewart’s final appearances with the Soquel High band program will come at the Spring Concert and Barbecue on May 19, followed by commencement ceremonies on May 29.

His departure marks the end of an era.

When Stewart returned to his alma mater—he graduated from Soquel High in 1982—the band program was hanging on by a thread. Enrollment had dwindled to roughly 25 students, most of them freshmen, with just one senior in the ranks.

“They decided we were going to have a band,” Stewart recalled. “The juniors stuck it out, but there weren’t many of them.” From that modest beginning, Stewart steadily rebuilt the program. Attendance doubled in his second year, then kept climbing. Today, roughly 150 students enroll in Soquel’s music classes annually, including beginner, intermediate, concert and jazz ensembles, along with music technology courses in synthesis and recording.

Under Stewart’s direction, Soquel’s bands have traveled statewide and beyond to compete in San Diego, Anaheim, Reno, Hollywood, Las Vegas and San Francisco. Twice, Soquel captured Gold Medal honors at the Anaheim Heritage Festival, competing against schools from as far away as Alaska and Connecticut.

One of Stewart’s proudest moments came in 2008, when Soquel won the Reno Jazz Festival.

“That year, the Jazz Band was just really strong,” he said.

Several alumni from that ensemble went on to careers as educators and professional musicians—something Stewart values as much as any trophy.

But accolades tell only part of the story.

Known for teaching in jeans and flip-flops, Stewart became as much a cultural fixture on campus as a music instructor. Under his leadership, Soquel’s varsity band became famous for spirited football game performances, complete with themed costumes ranging from superheroes and greasers to hippies and “snack hats”—headwear students could literally eat.

“The band being in the stands is definitely part of the Friday Night Lights,” Stewart said. “We follow the football players onto the field like a big train of energy.”

That spirit left a lasting mark on generations of students.

“He’s always been so supportive,” said sophomore Jeremiah Clarke, 15, a member of Jazz B. “He is very charismatic, very energetic. During pep season he’s always jumping around and dancing. He’s always pushing us to do our best.”

Jazz A sophomore Xavier Garcia, 16, said Stewart built a culture of excellence. “It’s a standard to win gold,” Garcia said. “He has a personal connection with every one of his students. Every student wants to be engaged because he’s an interesting teacher. I don’t know what we’re going to do without him.”

Stewart’s path back to Soquel was almost accidental.

After earning advanced degrees in music composition and theory, with an emphasis in electronic music, from the University of California, Davis and San José State University, he spent a period surfing and working odd jobs, including delivering flowers. During one delivery to Soquel High, he reconnected with an old friend, sparking a conversation about teaching and music technology that ultimately led him back to campus—where he succeeded his own mentor, the late David Leetz.

Now 62, Stewart said retirement is driven not by burnout, but by family. Following the death of his father last October, he wants more time to care for his mother, who has Alzheimer’s.

“I would probably stay a couple more years because I still like it,” Stewart said. “But I just needed the freedom and flexibility not to be in class.”

Retirement won’t mean slowing down. Stewart also plans to devote more time to family, his beautiful wife of 40 years Michelle, daughters Tyler and Shannon, and five grandchildren. He will continue performing with his band, The Clay Wheels, and—true to form —catch more waves.

“I’m definitely gonna surf some more,” he said.

Reflecting on three decades in the classroom, Stewart measures success less by medals than by connection. “Being able to be a part of this community for 30 years, I’ve made thousands of friends and probably a few enemies,” he said with a laugh. “Music is really secondary to the relationships that were developed here. And we got to make good music too.”