Gord Hembruff's employment record says he has worked as a music teacher for more than 30 years.
Hembruff, however, is hard pressed to call it work.
His love of music and teaching has made the last three decades fly by and now, even as he readies for retirement, he hopes to remain an active participant in the Tri-City music scene.
Hembruff is a reluctant retiree. A series of health problems have forced him to take it easy and that means pulling back from his duties at Port Moody secondary school.
"It was the hardest decision of my life," he said. "I've enjoyed teaching here so much. It's hard to give up something you enjoy."
Hembruff hopes to remain an active participant in the Community Concert Band, which he conducts - and which he created.
When he first began at Port Moody secondary, he found many students were eager to continue playing their instruments after graduation but had no outlet to perform. Hembruff launched the Community Concert Band with former students and other musicians in the area in the 1980s, and the group has been a fixture at Tri-City events ever since.
Now that he is retiring, he said he will remain active with the group.
"I want to continue to be involved," said Hembruff, whose music teaching career began at George Pearkes junior high in 1979. "None of this has ever felt like a job."
While at PMSS, Hembruff helped grow the music program. He added new classes like music composition and technology, recording arts and sciences, contemporary music (known as rock school), string orchestra and music theatre, among other courses.
He also introduced several district events, including Bands in the Park, the District Big Band Dance and Music Composition Night.
The Community Concert Band and Community String Orchestra is always looking for new musicians to join. Those who are interested should email Yushen Chang at [email protected].
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