BLINN PROFESSOR TURNS ONE-TIME SUBSTITUTE JOB INTO A 25 YEAR CAREER

  

John Dujka always knew he would teach music, but he never expected a substitute position at Blinn College would turn into a 25-year career.

“I knew I was going to teach piano one day,” Dujka said. “The teaching aspect all kind of fell in my lap.”

Dujka’s love of piano started well before he came to Blinn, as his mother’s side of the family had a rich musical tradition. Dujka started playing the piano while in kindergarten, and his talent showed itself early on.

“Folk music was always a part of my background,” Dujka said. “Eventually my brother Mark and I started working together for parties, weddings and receptions. We play a mixture of music, but the polka is what we became known for.”

The Dujka Brothers still play in a number of festivals across the state, including the Wurstfest in New Braunfels and the National Polka Festival in Ennis. The duo also plays local events like the Burton Cotton Gin Festival and the Bluebonnet Opry in Brenham.

Dujka also performs classical pieces, including a recent solo concert for the Texas Czech Heritage Cultural Center in La Grange. Dujka founded the Blinn College Young Pianists competition in 2002 and regularly serves as an adjudicator for piano competitions throughout Central Texas.

Dujka earned his music in piano performance master’s degree at the University of Houston. After graduating, he worked as a substitute for a part-time instructor at Blinn, a role that eventually turned into a full-time position. Dujka also collaborates with other instrumentalists on Blinn’s applied music faculty in annual concerts.

Dujka said he enjoys nurturing young talent and finding a diamond in the rough.

“One thing about the community college level is that students are trying to find themselves,” Dujka said. “Sometimes the students go into music as a career and other times they go a different direction, but music is always a part of their lives.”

Dujka said he loves when students have that “ah ha” moment and contribute to lively musical discussions.

“John is a wonderful musician and he can also teach students of all levels,” said fellow Visual & Performing Arts Professor Larry Campbell. “He can teach the next Mozart just as well as a beginning piano student.”

Teaching has also been beneficial to Dujka as a musician.

“I’m always finding new ways of thinking about music that I’ve studied,” Dujka said. “I have been blessed to be here at Blinn College.”

Story Courtesy of Blinn College