Ledyard — Jamie Spillane has witnessed a lot of change in his 14-year tenure as the high school's music director.

He has seen the choral program grow from roughly 45 students in 1987 to more than 415 this year. Former students have returned to work beside him at the school. He traveled to Europe twice with the Chamber Choir, an elite group of performers.

But one thing hasn't changed.

“I love teaching kids. I love making music,” Spillane said Monday while sitting in a small office within earshot of students practicing in the auditorium. “If I love music, I think everybody should be doing it. My goal is to make sure that people are having fun.”

Spillane, 41, plans to take that energy with him to the West Coast this summer, when he begins teaching and taking classes at the University of Arizona. He estimates it will take him three years to earn his doctorate in choral conducting.

He begins his new teaching job Aug. 6, but before then he has several projects to keep him busy. Spillane will oversee a concert next weekend, help the school administration in a search for his replacement, work on getting his Mystic home sold and sing with the Chamber Choir at his co-worker's June wedding.

Music teacher Rachael Allen, a 1995 graduate and the bride-to-be, described Spillane as her mentor and friend. She began working at her alma mater two years ago.

“His opinion is highly important to me,” she said. “He made me less afraid to make mistakes, but I'm sure I'll make more of them when he leaves. You learn from them, so that'll be more successes for me to tell him about when he calls.”

Allen was a piano major at Ithaca College in New York, Spillane's alma mater. She found it easier to sit behind a piano than stand up and teach a class, but Spillane taught her how to deal with students. One of Spillane's methods is to welcome all students to his classes — those who are gifted artists and those venturing for the first time into music, she said.

“Jamie has always been the person that everyone comes to for answers,” she said. “Now he'll be on the other side. He's going to a place where he is learning.”

On Monday, Allen asked Spillane how a specific section of a song should be performed. Instead of talking her through it, Spillane jumped into a quick dance, humming and snapping his fingers, before pushing his hands up into the air several times for emphasis. Spillane's work with the Chamber Choir has led to top awards in festivals across the country, including the Berklee High School Jazz Festival in Boston and Musicfest in Orlando, Fla. The school has the largest choral program in the state.

Alison Bacewicz, who will major in musical theater this fall, also at Ithaca College, said the music program's reputation, and Spillane's, has trickled down through the years. Her brother, Matt, performed in the school's top choirs and Alison attended all of his performances. Now a senior, Bacewicz said she is confident she will excel at Ithaca because of Spillane's dedication to his students. Spillane, who is also the music department chairman, comes from a family of performers. Both of his parents were performers, and they, along with his sister, sing annually in the Mystic Seaport Carol. Spillane said he will return this winter to conduct the group.

Next to his family — wife Linda, and two sons, Colin, 10, and 12-year-old J.B. — Spillane enjoys his students.

“I couldn't be prouder when my former students go far beyond where I am now. The best thing that a student can do is eclipse his teacher as fast as he can. I tell them to do it, go be famous. And smile a lot,” he said.