Tim Waugh
Timothy H. Waugh, 69, of Princeton, West Virginia, passed from this life into life eternal on Thursday, February 8, 2024. The only child of Harper E. Waugh and Mary Louise Crotty Waugh, Tim was preceded in death by his parents.
An internationally acclaimed conductor, composer, and performance arts educator, Tim was a beloved figure in many performance mediums, including handbell, choral, church music, and musical theatre. Throughout his career, his passion for music and education inspired countless musicians, and he was a tireless champion for performance arts in the church, classroom, and community.
His continued work as a guest conductor and clinician for choral and handbell festivals followed a 33-year career in public school music education. He proudly called his choir and handbell students “my kids,” and they remained his kids for the rest of his life. Tim served many churches throughout Southern West Virginia and North Carolina from the time he was a youth, playing organ for church services at the early age of 12. At the time of his death, he was employed as the Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church, Salisbury NC, where he was embraced by staff and congregation, adults and children alike.
In 2011, Tim founded Charlotte Bronze Handbell Ensemble, a professional community ensemble based in Charlotte, NC, and served as the group’s beloved conductor and artistic director until his passing.
A kidney transplant recipient as a result of Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), Tim was a determined advocate for organ donation. The kidney Tim received from a selfless live donor allowed his multitude of friends to continue enjoying his talent, teaching, wit, and delightfully quirky humor for 18 years longer than they otherwise would have had.
Bravi Tutti
A thousand souls cried out the day
We heard that you had gone away.
We silently laid down our bells,
Obediently held back the wells
Of tears that you forbad we shed,
“No diva fanfares when I’m dead!”
Yet hark, we hear the Carillon!
Tintinnabulations will go on,
And all who learned from you will ring,
And ‘Ubi Caritas’ will sing
To honor you, our figurehead,
As you go to your heav’nly bed.
The organist extr’ordinaire,
The Handbell genius with frosted hair!
Our teacher, father, biggest fan,
Composer, critic, the jingle-bell man.
Proud Scot, Virginian (the Western kind),
The musician with the brilliant mind!
We loved them all, the Tim’s we knew
(And Boris and Natasha too!)
We can’t believe you are no more.
You broke the mold, oh Maestro Waugh.
So now the time has come to pass
For us to say, “You were World Class!”
Bravi Tutti!