BLAHNÍK, JOEL (b. 1938)

Joel Blahník is a native of Wisconsin's Door County, a graduate of Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, and above all, an instrumental music educator in the Wisconsin Public Schools from 1961-1993. During his comprehensive music career he has been a clinician/lecturer in over 200 of the state's schools. He has received many local, state, and national awards for his creativity and excellence in teaching during these three decades.

 

As a composer, his works have been featured at national composer symposiums and international festivals, and appear on state and international music education selected lists. His works have been recorded by state, national and foreign radio and TV. As an author, his writings have appeared in state, national and international journals.

 

As a conductor, his student ensembles have distinguished themselves at state convention events including three performances at the celebrated Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. He has served many years as a clinician for state adjudication workshops, related-arts festivals, music camps and other music activities from elementary schools to World professional ensembles.

 

Since 1988, he has been called to a great deal of musical activity in the Czech Republic. This includes guest conducting student, amateur, and professional ensembles, co-founding the Prague Youth Wind Ensemble Festival, and networking with Czech musical artists and composers.

 

The counter melody to his teaching is the water where he has served 41 years as a U.S. Coast Guard licensed skipper on the Great Lakes. Since 1975, he has also been the Chambers Island Lighthouse caretaker and historian. He and his wife, Mary Ann, have a family of three children.

 

His collaborative endeavors with various colleagues have been applauded, including the formation of the Czech Music Alliance, a professional partnership with Anita Smisek of the Sinsinawa Dominicans. In 1989, they established Alliance Publications, Inc., a desk-top music publishing company for the furtherance of old and new Czecho-Slovak music, as well as educational and religious music of contemporary composers. Since 1993, Blahnik has embarked upon a career as a free-lance composer/clinician and music publisher, often drawing inspiratiion from his musical heritage.