Music to all their ears

Canfield school’s band director makes his mentors proud

By ELISE FRANCO

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

CANFIELD — Jim Volenik joined the band in junior high school to follow in his brothers’ footsteps.

After realizing his talent and drive to play, Volenik turned his hobby into a love affair that is still strong after nearly 40 years.

“My junior high band director got me really turned on to it,” he said. “I pretty much knew by eighth grade that I wanted to teach music.”

Now Volenik, who has been the Canfield Village Middle School band director for 23 years, is celebrating his 25th year as a music educator. He taught one year at Ursuline High School in Youngstown and one year at United Local Junior/Senior High School in Hanoverton.

He said he began playing the saxophone in fifth grade at Shore Middle School in Mentor and learned the clarinet and flute during his years at Mentor High School. Volenik said his love for music and instruments made him passionate about passing on his knowledge to young people.

“Through the outgrowth of playing came the whole teaching side,” he said. “They’re so excited about learning, and they’re like sponges. They come to class every day wanting to learn something new, and they just soak it up.”

Several of Volenik’s former instructors described him in that exact way.

Gayle Stalheim, former Mentor High School band director, said he worked with Volenik for three years and remembers his versatility as a musician.

“He played in the concert, jazz and marching bands,” Stalheim said. “He adapted to the different styles of music very easily.”

He said the best memories of Volenik came long after he graduated from high school, while judging Volenik’s bands in competitions.

“I’ve been so pleased with his musicality,” Stalheim said. “The tone quality of his bands are very superior.”

He likened hearing Volenik’s bands play to tasting a food that turns out to be surprisingly delicious.

“It’s just like when you taste something, and you thought it would be good, but it’s so much better,” he said. “That’s the feeling I get when I hear his bands.”

Tim Yowell, former band director for Mentor Public Schools, said he had the pleasure of working with Volenik from throughout his early and secondary educational career.

“I remember Jim as a hard-working, serious guy who had a fun side,” he said. “That’s probably why he’s such a good teacher.”

Yowell said he’s paid close attention to his former student’s career, and he hasn’t been disappointed.

“He’s made us teachers so proud,” he said. “This is the epitome of joy for a director, to see a student turn into a success in the same field.”

Volenik said he wouldn’t be where he is today without Yowell and Stalheim, and all of his instructors.

“This means the world to me because they’re the ones who have gotten me into this as a career,” he said. “And they’re celebrating with me. It’s awesome.”

efranco@vindy.com