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MR. JULIAN’S OPUS
Grand River high school music alumni surprise retiring teacher at final concert
Grand River high school music alumni surprise retiring teacher at final concert
By Carrie Debrone
Kitchener Citizen
Retiring Grand River Collegiate Institute music teacher Kirby Julian was surprised by a group of about 60 alumni who returned to their former school May 24 to play one last time under the direction of their former music teacher.
Using social media to organize the surprise, the group planned several secret practices and then gathered at the year-end Grand River Music high school music concert, walking en mass from the audience to exchange seats with current music students on the symphony orchestra stage.
To his delight, Julian was then asked to come to the stage to conduct them in a last performance of one of his favourite pieces of music - the Bacchanale from the opera Samson and Delilah.
The performance brought the house down and tears to Julian’s eyes. They received a standing ovation from the audience.
Before the performance, former student Emily Cullen, who graduated in 2001, let the audience in on what was happening and spoke on behalf of all the alumni, whom she said have gone on to become productive members of society with jobs in countless sectors from the medical to accounting fields and even some who make a living as musicians.
She added that although they may not all work as musicians, they have retained a love and appreciation for music, in part, because of the education they received from Julian and Grand River’s music program.
Cullen thanked him and cited Julian’s dedication to the school’s music program and the many opportunities he gave to his students to play almost any kind of music at school and in the community as his greatest gifts to his students.
Kirby Julian and his wife, Barb, who teaches music at Stanley Park Senior Public School in Kitchener, will both retire in June.
Kitchener Citizen
Retiring Grand River Collegiate Institute music teacher Kirby Julian was surprised by a group of about 60 alumni who returned to their former school May 24 to play one last time under the direction of their former music teacher.
Using social media to organize the surprise, the group planned several secret practices and then gathered at the year-end Grand River Music high school music concert, walking en mass from the audience to exchange seats with current music students on the symphony orchestra stage.
To his delight, Julian was then asked to come to the stage to conduct them in a last performance of one of his favourite pieces of music - the Bacchanale from the opera Samson and Delilah.
The performance brought the house down and tears to Julian’s eyes. They received a standing ovation from the audience.
Before the performance, former student Emily Cullen, who graduated in 2001, let the audience in on what was happening and spoke on behalf of all the alumni, whom she said have gone on to become productive members of society with jobs in countless sectors from the medical to accounting fields and even some who make a living as musicians.
She added that although they may not all work as musicians, they have retained a love and appreciation for music, in part, because of the education they received from Julian and Grand River’s music program.
Cullen thanked him and cited Julian’s dedication to the school’s music program and the many opportunities he gave to his students to play almost any kind of music at school and in the community as his greatest gifts to his students.
Kirby Julian and his wife, Barb, who teaches music at Stanley Park Senior Public School in Kitchener, will both retire in June.