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 Joan Klenavic
Special Teacher
Ottawa Region Branch
2011
Contemplating her career, Joan Klenavic offered these words: “I love music and I love teaching piano. I tell friends and family that I teach to support my habit – the need to play the piano.”
This need arose when Joan was very young. She frequented the homes of friends who shared their pianos and their expertise until, at the age of eight, Joan’s parents provided a piano for her. Thus began a life of rich and diverse musical encounters. Her small high school in Sutton West, Ontario mounted an operetta every year, under the itinerant but extremely capable direction of Elaine Cowieson. Joan performed in Trial by Jury and HMS Pinafore, while also singing in the church choir, playing piano for the Sunday school, and studying violin.
At Queen’s University, Joan enhanced her post-secondary experience by joining the Fine Arts committee, which brought young performing artists to the campus – an especially memorable concert involving Teresa Stratas. Joan chaired the Queen’s chapter of the National Federation of University Students, and attended several conferences at other Canadian universities.
After three years in Germany, where she rented a dilapidated piano and taught the children of British forces stationed at Hildesheim, Joan and her husband John, settled in Ottawa. She taught high school English and accompanied the Fisher Park High School Cantabile Club. Relocating to both Kingston and Toronto, the Klenavics returned to Ottawa with three small children. Joan resumed piano lessons and when her teacher fell ill, she was asked to teach the younger students.
To her great surprise, Joan discovered that she loved teaching piano! She found excellent teachers in Dina Namer and Virginia Strawn, who enabled the completion of her ARCT. She sought companionship, and professional development in ORMTA, serving the Ottawa Region Branch in a variety of portfolios. Joan also assumed various responsibilities for the Gloucester Music Teachers’ Association (GMTA), including two terms as president, and was a founding member of the Gloucester Music Club (GMC).
The City of Gloucester honoured Joan with the Arts and Culture volunteer award in 1997, and the City of Ottawa followed suit in 2004. Joan was again recognized in 2005 on the occasion of her retirement as the director of GMC.
Joan’s personal goal, to nurture a lifelong love of music in each of her students, has blossomed to become many years of exceptional dedication to musical activities in our community. We are deeply grateful! |
