COLUMN: Teacher, student reconnected
On Oct. 8, folks in the Flathead will have a chance to see a unique multimedia performance by accomplished pianist and entertainer.
A Facebook reunion between Johnny B. and a former student put the wheels in motion for the upcoming show at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Bigfork Aces After School and Summer Program.
Bigfork acrylic artist Mya Bessette was 6 years old when she first met her first-grade teacher, Mr. Bushel, in Homer, Alaska.
“Imagine a classroom filled with nervous 6-year-olds, sitting at desks for the first time in their lives” Bessette said. ”Now imagine teacher in his mid-20s walking into the room, greeting the kids with exuberance, sitting down at an upright piano with his Converse sneakers and playing ‘Great Balls of Fire’ like his life depended on it, kicking his piano stool aside in the process.
“This was my introduction to education. This was my introduction to embracing my own, artistic nature. He was my inspiration.”
John Bushel, aka Johnny B., honed his craft at the Berklee College of Music in the 1970s. He got this crazy, wonderful idea to load his piano in the back of a van and take his show on the road. For the next five years he traveled around the country, performing in 49 of the 50 states, bringing his hilarious storytelling and original brand of boogie woogie, jazz-influenced style to the ivories.
He settled in Homer in 1984 where he taught elementary school for a number of years but kept his music chops sharp with school assemblies across the United States.
Since 2011, he has been traveling throughout Alaska and the Northwest performing “Rhythm of the North,” a high-energy, often inspiring show with beautiful music highlighted by breathtaking high-definition imagery of the North.
Bessette is beside herself with excitement about the upcoming show and encourages everyone, young and old, to come. But she also have another very special reason to be excited for him to come perform.
“More than 30 years after impacting the course of my education, Johnny B. is coming to my hometown to play for the wonderful community of Bigfork,” she said. And the very best part for me ... he’ll meet and play for my daughter who is precisely the age that I was when I met the warm, enigmatic and ridiculously talented Johnny B.”
The show starts at 7 p.m.
Tickets are available at Bigfork Drug, Electric Avenue Gifts or online at www.bigforkcenter.org Food will be provided by Great Northern Gourmet and will feature Alaska-inspired fare and beverages starting at 6:15 p.m.
The ACES Afterschool and Summer Program is a nonprofit organization that provides a place where kids can succeed academically, socially, physically and emotionally through mentoring, tutoring, recreation, the arts, cultural and academic enrichment.
ACES offers programs in cooking, academics, recreation and community service projects to the youth of Bigfork for little or no charge.
For more information about the show or Bigfork ACES, go to acesafterschool.com.
Community editor Carol Marino may be reached at 758-4440 or by email at community@dailyinterlake.com.