They look like ordinary children romping the playgrounds. But they are far from ordinary. They have exceptional talents that parents can certainly be proud of. Many of them can play at least two musical instruments – Clarinet, Alto and Tenor Saxophone, Violin, French Horn, Trombone – you name it, they play it. They don’t just read notes. Name the tune and most of them can play it. They all started playing the piano, according to Jun Javier.
But that is not all. They also sing and dance like the professionals you see on television.
I witnessed it all on Mother’s Day, 11th of May 2008 at Bowman Hall in Blacktown. Thanks to the generosity of Robert and Maria Bock, I was given free access to the show and I was truly entertained.
As I entered the hall, the band was playing “Waltzing Mathilda.” I thought I was attending a concert of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. But no, these were kids. Their parents were proudly listening and I heard someone say: “Hoy, anak ko yan.” (Hey, that’s my child.) Rodel and Eliza Marquez were there to watch their children Benjamin and Bernadette. Twelve-year-old Ben played the saxophone while the diminutive 9-year-old Bernadette could hardly carry the French horn which she played without a squeak and like a full grown professional. Maria Bock was at the entrance selling CDs of the band while her husband Robert was at the front row proudly watching his daughter Clarissa play the alto sax.
The kids were serenading their moms on Mother’s Day. They were also raising funds for their forthcoming trip to New York where they were invited to march and play on 2010. They have less than 2 years to prepare and they are frantically doing everything to make some money for their plane fare. Someone thought of the idea of going to Circular Quay on weekends to serenade passers by. Well, they get mostly coins but the paltry amounts add up.
It’s amazing how Maestro Jun Javier was able to train these kids to be versatile musicians.
According to him, he was initially trained by his father who encouraged him to join a professional brass band. Thereupon he was admitted as a scholar at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree. After graduation, he became a member of various bands that included the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra which played regularly at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Whenever he was available, Jun was also invited in prestigious night clubs along Roxas Boulevard. It was then when he became an expert in all kinds of musical instruments – percussion, brass, woodwinds, string, etc.
When he arrived in Australia in 1990, he decided to open a school of music. In no time at all, Jun Javier was able to form a marching band composed of 50 members. Of this number, 20 of his young students have earned advanced status and have been conferred Australian Certificates in Music.
Among the 20 who will be going to New York are Bobby Harrison, Jicko and Ian Manaloto, Geli and Gian Buhat, Joanna Eden, Clarissa Bock, Benjamin and Bernadette Marquez. They have also been invited to play in Las Vegas, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Those interested may ring Jun Javier at 9837 3001.
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