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The musical life of Kacper Waclawski
ano. His father was also instrumen- tal in his career. “He would sit and listen to me play, and say, ‘Some- thing’s missing, I don’t knowwhat, but something.’” He didn’t always know his career would be musical. “It wasn’t un- til I was in Grade Four or
filled a local need. “We had a huge response to a simple flyer, when we first started in the United Church,” Waclawski says. “At that time I was the organist and choir director, and during university I’d worked at Dominic’s Music in Orleans, so I got a lot of students.” He calledmusician
gether, learn cover tunes and play gigs. Lo- cal band Full Circle started there. Kacper’s staff has changed, and he has also expanded to Riverside South, starting in a school. “It was expensive, we had to fit into their hours and set up and take down every day.” So he bought another house there. He also takes classes to local schools and currently teaches groups in Cambridge, Winchester, St-Viateur, Ste-Terese, and Rockland schools. The Academy takes care of all administration, holds recitals and pro- vide instruments. He has close to 20 teachers, two recep- tionists, and is open from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Thursday. He recently finished his music degree, which he had dropped as life took over. “I had to reaudition, with a lot of memorization, the school was really busy and a baby was on the way.” He now holds a B.Mus. He has been in several bands, plays a vast array of instruments, is currently music di- rector at St. Richards Church in Ottawa, is the new director of the Russell Men’s Choir, is starting up a Russell Youth Choir, and is starting summer music camps. He also teaches a cooking class at Ottawa Univer- sity, after which he rushes home to teach here. He credits his wife, who has most of the responsibility for child care, and his parents as being the supports he couldn’t have suc- ceeded without. “Now I really have to make the business work.”
CANDICE VETTER candice.vetter@eap.on.ca
Kacper Waclawski is a slight young m an with short dark hair and a studious look. He’s not 30 yet but he owns two m usic acade m ies, teaches hundreds of students, directs three choirs, started and organized Riverfest for several years, is a well-known volunteer, and is m arried with two young children.
Five Conservatory that I realized, yes I want to do this for life.” In high
friends and they be- came teachers too. The academy out- grew the church and five years ago he bought a bun- galow on Conces- sion Street. At first he and his wife also lived there, but his family and business grew. He bought an- other house so the Concession Street school. The school gives group lessons, pri- vate lessons, and has recently added Sky- pe lessons including teachers from as far as Florida. There is a band program, “sort of School of Rock,” where a group is taught to jam to-
He would sit and listen to me play, and say, something’s missing, I don’t know what, but something. Kacper Waclawski
His parents moved to Ottawa from Poland when Kacper was five. “The first three days of kindergarten I didn’t say a word. I didn’t understand any Eng-
lish.” Once immigrated though, his parents spoke English at home. Kacper now speaks English, French and Polish, and has returned to Poland occasionally to visit relatives. The family moved to Rwussell in time for Kacper to start in the new Russell Middle School (now Russell High). “It was such a change.We lived 10 years in a one-bedroom apartment at Kent and Lisgar.”His father got a job here, his parents bought a house and Kacper soon came to really love Russell. He was about age eight when he started formal music lessons. He says his love of music came from his mother, who was a trained Conservatory pianist and recog- nized his energy and dedication at the pi-
school he was already giving lessons and au- ditioned for the Univer- sity of Ottawa music program, which only accepts 10 out of 200 applicants. “It was very encourag- ing to be accepted.” Making a living in the arts is tough, but Kacper has been successful since he started his first school. The Rus- sell Music Academy
Photo Candice Vetter
Kacper Waclawski has made a successful commercial career by teaching music. He owns Russell Music Academy and an academy in Riverside South and directs three choirs.
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