WINTHROP – Charles T. Milazzo took another step Tuesday night toward his final curtain call in a career that’s spanned 43 years.

In the auditorium at the Winthrop High School, Milazzo, often referred to as “Chuck,” oversaw his last rehearsal with the Kennebec Performing Arts Company, for he has decided to retire.

On the stage, members of the jazz band, all dressed in black, were perched on neatly-arranged chairs, gripping their instruments and flipping pages on the music stand. A cacophony of percussions and blaring trombones and trumpets filled the room. Milazzo, who is 84 years old, sat on one side of the stage, glaring through his glasses at the pages in front of him. With a pencil, he jotted down notes. His left hand came up holding three fingers, and the right hand swayed to a rhythm in his head. He made more notes.

Soon, everyone was in position, ready to create music.

“One, two, and one, two, three, go…” said Milazzo, waving his wrist, and the rehearsal began.

Milazzo was hired as the music director by the Kennebec Performing Arts Company (formerly known as Augusta Symphony Organization) in 1980. At the time, he taught music and theater at the Maranacook High School in Readfield. Having previously taught music in Vermont and Massachusetts, he had enough feathers in his cap to take on such a role. He continued to teach and took on as the conductor and music director for the arts company. Though he retired from teaching at the school in 2000, he continued his role at the arts company.

“It was a smaller group back then,” said Milazzo. “We built it from that to what it is today.”

The company is group of people, amateur and professional, learning and playing music. In addition to the jazz band, a wind ensemble and a band of singers are also part of the group. Milazzo has been overseeing all three groups, and now, with his imminent retirement, the art’s company’s board of directors has been tasked with finding a replacement.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” said Jane Brogan, a member of the wind ensemble. “He told us after a recent rehearsal, and it caught us all off-guard. But we are happy for him; he deserves a retirement.”

Milazzo attributed his love for music to his parents.

“They saw something in me when I was 3,” he said. “Now I want to create and teach music and perform music for the people. It’s the best medicine for me.”

He started playing clarinet and saxophone in fourth grade, and would later graduate from the New England Conservatory of Music with a focus on education and clarinet performance.

Over the years, Milazzo admitted, the challenging part has not been to teach music but to find musicians. “I am always looking to find a replacement or find a new addition,” he said. “It’s tough to find musicians who will put in the work and understand what to play. Because you must know what kind of a crowd you are playing to.”

Judy Mank, another member of the group, said that Milazzo was the best conductor a musician could ask for.

“He’s a combination of stern and creative, and he just knows how to teach everyone,” said Mank. “He has that innate ability to help people and is creatively community-minded.”

During the rehearsal, after a song, Milazzo asked Luke Soucy, a bass trombone player, to step farther up the stage. “I’d like you to come out more. This way, the other guys can be more energetic and harmonize with you.”

Soucy obliged, and they played again. Milazzo asked them to stop midway: “See? You look great up front, Lucas,” he said smiling, and the show went on. He raised his arms, and the song soared to a crescendo, and with his arms, it dropped to a soothing melody. His foot did not stop tapping the wooden floor for a second.

After the last song, Milazzo softly addressed his students. He asked them how long they had played under his baton. Some said a decade, some over 30 years. One high school student, a newcomer, smiled at the question, and Milazzo urged everyone to give her a round of applause.

“Let me make a strong suggestion to you all,” he said. “You will be giving the new conductor a chance, everyone teaches differently. I hope they will go to swing for you and that you do the same. And, be kind.”

Milazzo, a Wayne resident, is flying to Connecticut after retirement. He said he expects to be greeted by some old friends and hopes a school there would need a music teacher.

He will attend his last concert on Friday at Winthrop High School. And on Saturday, the group will perform a farewell concert at 7 p.m. for their adored conductor at the Hope Baptist Church in Manchester.

“Yes, I expect tears on the day of the farewell,” Milazzo said. “I am an emotional guy.”

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