If your love of music blossomed while growing up in Sooke, there’s a good chance it was nurtured by Lorna Bjorklund somewhere along the way.
After a 48-year career as a music teacher, Bjorklund said her long-awaited farewell with a final concert on June 12 at Journey Middle School, just a week before her last class at Edward Milne Community School.
“June 12 was a bittersweet moment,” Bjorklund said. “On the one hand it’s always nice to perform, but there was the realization that this was the last school concert. It’s never been just about performances though because working with students and preparing them is very rewarding.”
Bjorklund started her teaching career in Outlook, Sask., at a boarding school she had previously attended. She obtained her bachelor’s degrees in education and music from the University of Saskatchewan and later pursued a master’s degree in education at the University of Ottawa. After completing her studies, she taught at the University of Ottawa for several years.
Bjorklund’s resume highlights her experiences in various locations, including two years in Montreal, London, England, Brasilia, Brazil, and seven years of teaching in the Cayman Islands.
Most of Bjorklund’s career revolved around teaching, where she could utilize Canadian, American, and British teaching methods. She found this aspect intriguing due to each technique’s distinct approaches and styles.
After her mother died in 2007, Bjorklund relocated to Sooke to join her father and siblings. In 2008, she began her teaching career at Journey Middle School, initially with only two 50-minute periods per week.
“I thought Sooke needed a band program, so I began the process of building one and recruiting students for a full band program at Journey,” she said. “While I was doing that, I decided we needed a string program, considering Sooke has the Philharmonic.”
Bjorklund presented the idea of broadening Sooke’s musical opportunities to Norman Nelson, the former conductor of the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra.
Bjorklund lobbied the Sooke School District board to make music compulsory in elementary schools and to include a band program at EMCS.
“I was very happy to get both asks,” she said. “The Harmony Project Sooke grew out of the string and band programs at Journey and Edward Milne. It was Norman’s idea, and I ran with it. It started in 2016 and has been growing every year. The community has been very supportive, and we have a very enthusiastic volunteer board.”
A professional string teacher works with Harmony Project Sooke students three times a week,and there is a drum line as well.
“Those two programs are unique,” Bjorklund said. It’s the only string program in the school district.”
Bjorklund stressed that teachers should possess two crucial qualities.
First, they should possess a deep passion and affection for the subject they teach, and second, they should genuinely care for their students.
“As a teacher, I think it is important to be a lifelong learner as well so that you can be fresh for your students. Even though I have several diplomas in piano performance, I still take lessons bi-weekly from Robert Holliston at the Conservatory in Victoria because I believe there is always something to learn in life, and this desire to keep current gives students the idea that learning music is exciting and lasts for a lifetime,” said Bjorklund.
She cites her father as a great example of how music is a gift that keeps giving throughout your life.
Sheila Whincup first met Bjorklund in 2016 when Bjorklund approached her to join Harmony Project Sooke’s board.
“I discovered that not only is Lorna a talented designer and teacher of band and orchestra programs, but she is also a persuasive recruiter of volunteers,” Whincup said.
“I do publicity for Harmony Project Sooke because I agree with Lorna about the need to make music education more accessible for kids in Sooke, especially by introducing them to classical repertoire. I think people are drawn to her enthusiasm and genuine joy about all aspects of musical education, helping students to learn and love music, of course, but also the whole process of building programs.”
Sandi Arts, an elementary music specialist who’s taught at Ecole Poirier Elementary School for 17 years, lauded Bjorklund’s efforts to start band programs.
“The result is that Journey and Edward Milne Community School have thriving and engaging programs ever since,” she said. “Lorna is a true gem in the Sooke community, a leader and creative thinker who believes deeply in the power of music to make positive change.”
Arts have witnessed the difference Bjorklund makes first-hand through her two children, who were involved in band programs taught by Bjorklund.
“Lorna connects with people, and the positive impact of her dedication and desire to share her love of music will always be deeply appreciated by me and my family,” Arts said.
”I think people are drawn to her genuine joy and enthusiasm about all aspects of music and all aspects of musical education in helping students to learn and love music. She is truly visionary, and her passion for bringing music into the lives of Sooke’s children will continue beyond her retirement.”
When asked how she’s adjusting to retirement, Bjorklund paused before saying, “It hasn’t really sunk in yet because I’ve been at the school every day. I’m looking forward to travelling more, giving private lessons, working with the Harmony Project Sooke, and working to make Sooke a music centre.”
