Charles A. Shaffer – Music Director

Charles Shaffer grew up in Cocoa Beach Florida during the height of the space age. In addition to his early interest and participation in music he was involved in Boy Scouts and is an Eagle Scout. He holds degrees in Music Education (both Bachelor’s and Master’s) from Florida State University. During his university career, he performed with the all of the key ensembles, was the trumpet section leader of the Marching Chiefs, and toured Poland and Syria on behalf of the State Department in 1974.

Mr. Shaffer began his teaching career as the assistant band director to Lewis Jones at the legendary Leon High School band program in Tallahassee, Florida.  His jazz ensemble was one of six bands in the entire country to be invited to perform at the Mobile Jazz Festival.  His teaching career in New England began at Hingham High School where his concert band was the winner of the first Massachusetts Instrumental Conductor’s Association State Band Festival. Mr. Shaffer spent the last twenty-five years of his teaching career at Braintree High School.  Under his leadership, the program grew from an eighteen-member band to one hundred performers. The band and jazz ensemble received many superior ratings and gold medals at festivals throughout the United States and Canada. He was inducted into the Braintree High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005. Mr. Shaffer retired from public school teaching in 2008.

As a trumpet player, in addition to his freelance work, he performed with the Tri-County Symphonic Band, the MIT Summer Orchestra, and the Parkway Orchestra. His association with the Satuit Band dates back many years both as a trumpet player and also as the assistant conductor. This 2024 season will mark his 13th full season as Music Director.

A. Douglas Wauchope – Conductor Emeritus

Douglas Wauchope, the longest-tenured conductor in the history of the Satuit Band, was born in Atlanta and raised in Brevard, NC. He was educated at the Curtis Institute and New England Conservatory.

As a performer, Doug has played trombone for the Boston Symphony, Boston Pops, Boston Ballet, Handel & Haydn Society and numerous theatrical productions as well as the Ars Antiqua Trombone Trio and Westerly (RI) Symphony and Chorus. Doug plays bass trombone with the Atlantic Symphony and lead trombone with South Shore Swing Shift.

He is the founder and conductor of both the Virtuoso Band and the Scholarship Band, has taught in the Weymouth and Marshfield public school systems and in June 2006 he retired as the Director of Bands at Hingham High School. Doug was associated with South Shore Conservatory for 25 years and has also taught at Berklee College of Music. He continues to teach at Bridgewater State College. Many of his former students have gone on to successful careers as performers and teachers of music.

At the start of the 2011 season Doug announced his intention to retire as Principal Conductor of the Satuit Band, the band membership voted to name him Conductor Emeritus.