Although the seats in the auditorium were barely filled, the room was filled with the joyful music of the piano. The MUSIC 25J piano performance workshop featured a recital of all the advanced piano students in that class.
Playing complex pieces from Chopin to Brahms, the 11 students featured in the recital stunned audience with their refined piano talent. Professor Anna Poklewski, who teaches the advanced piano classes at De Anza College, has organized this annual performance 35 years.
Unfortunately this will be the final note for Music 25 J, as this is the last year it will be taught. In fact this is the last year there will be any advanced piano classes taught at De Anza by Poklewski. In ’77, De Anza was first in the state and fifth in the nation in the amount they paid professors, which was why I came here in the first place,” recalled Poklewski. “Now De Anza is 60th in the state.”
After a massive 33 percent budget cut to the De Anza Music Department, Poklewski has decided to retire from college teaching.
Poklewski has been a member of De Anza College music faculty since 1977. During her tenure she transformed De Anza’s piano program, giving it international reputation and acclaim. Several of her students have won recognition and top places in both international and national competitions. In fact the Anna Powlewski Academy of Music was named after her and founded by her and one of her former students.
Before she retires, Poklewski will teach piano at De Anza for one last quarter this fall. She said, “I will practically be teaching piano for no pay and out of the kindness of my heart.” The performance during fall quarter will be the last advanced piano performance at De Anza.
The future of the advanced piano department is grim. With massive budget cuts and the loss of Poklewski, the music department will be crippled. Poklewski said, “With the way things are happening, the music department will possibly never recover. It’s very tragic.”
