Jeff Willner

The 07-08 school year marks Jeff Willner's 23rd year as a high school music teacher. He began his teaching career at the tender age of 23 at Gunn High School in 1985 after student teaching with local band legend Robert Gomez at Cupertino High School. From there were teaching stints at LosAltos, Santa Clara, and Saint Francis High Schools until his most recent and most probably final stop here at Paly. Says Mr. Willner, "After almost six years, I feel like we have just begun to realize the potential of this program. We are able to do amazing things here and, with the great support we have built over the past few years, we will be able to continue the pattern of growth in musical excellence." Mr. Willner holds a BA in Music from San Jose State University, an MA in Music Ed from The Ohio State University and an MA in School Administration from Santa Clara University. A trumpet player, he was a long standing member of the San Jose Wind Symphony (formerly San Jose City College Band) and played local shows and other small jobs until the birth of his first children. This past year he has, once again, begun a private trumpet studio at his home and hopes to do a little more playing (not too much . . . see next paragraph). Mr. Willner lives in Santa Clara with his wife of 18 years Inger, and his four children, Celia, 6, David, 6, Isabel, 3 and Anne, 3. That's right, two sets of twins. A self described "homebody," Mr. Willner loves nothing more than to hang around at home with the family and work on their ca. 1875 Santa Clara home. When allowed, he also likes to go to his basement and play with his collections, which include 2-3000 record albums, old radios, victrolas and a Seeburg AY160 Jukebox. He even practices his horn now and then.