John Dujka Among Blinn’s Hall of Honor Inductees

The Blinn College District will celebrate six friends and alumni with induction into the Blinn College Alumni and Friends Association Hall of Honor with a special luncheon Friday, Oct. 6, at the Blinn College-Brenham Campus Student Center.

This year’s inductees include John Dujka, a musician well-known in Fayette County, along with Don Adam, Joel Franke, Robert Giles, Charlie Matejowsky, and Lillie Ann Turner-Beatty.

The Hall of Honor recognizes Blinn’s most distinguished alumni, local business leaders, and those who have made a significant impact in their communities or professions. Inductees are recognized at a luncheon during Blinn’s homecoming week each year.

The luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Janis Sneed Banquet Room. Tickets are $30 for an individual and $240 for a table of eight. Reservations are available by email to sharon.loukanis@blinn.edu or by calling (979) 830-4344.

About John Dujka

John Dujka was raised on a farm on the coastal plains of Texas near the community of Orchard. He grew up listening to his paternal grandfather Herman Brossmann of St. John (near Schulenburg) playing his accordion, and he also sang along with his grandmother Clara Brossmann, who played the organ in St. John the Baptist Church. His musical talent appeared early, and he began formal piano study at the age of 7. By age 11, he was playing the organ at Guardian Angel Catholic Church in Wallis and began entertaining for weddings and other events at the age of 12.

His band director, Al Sulak, gave him the opportunity to play piano in the Brazos High School Jazz Band while only in sixth grade. Later, Sulak would have Dujka play in his dance band, “The Country Sounds,” where John polished his “Nashville” piano playing style.

Meanwhile, Dujka’s classical piano abilities caught the attention of numerous college professors, who invited him to attend various university summer piano camps throughout his high school years before choosing The University of Houston to continue his collegiate music studies. Subsequently, Dujka earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance at the University of Houston Moores School of Music, where he studied with Albert Hirsh, Ruth Tomfohrde, and world-renowned pianist Abbey Simon. Dujka came to Blinn in the fall of 1990 expecting only to be a short-term substitute instructor. By a twist of fate, another colleague at Blinn was moving, and offered Dujka her studio of 25 piano students plus the opportunity to be a part-time music instructor, thus starting what has now become a 32+ year career. Dujka currently is Professor of Piano and Music Theory and is a collaborative pianist on staff, performing regularly with students, faculty and guests. He also maintains a private piano studio in Brenham and is a member of the Texas Music Teachers Association and Brenham Area Music Teachers Association. He regularly serves as an adjudicator for competitions and other area piano events. Dujka founded the annual Blinn College District Young Pianists Competition in 2002 and was honored by Mary and Larry Whigham in the spring of 2022 with the establishment of a Blinn endowed scholarship in his name.

Dujka has been a featured soloist with the Blinn College Symphonic Band, performing Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and Grieg’s “Piano Concerto in A minor,” along with numerous solo recitals over the years.

Dujka is a versatile musician who is at home performing classical repertoire, as well as Czech and German folk music, and country/pop styles. Dujka and his brother Mark also have performed as “The Dujka Brothers” since 1986 across Texas and are known throughout the country for their recordings of Czech folk music. They have appeared nationally on the Mollie B. Polka Party and Big Joe Polka Show televised weekly on RFD-TV. Their music also is heard each Saturday along with other polka artists on KULP 1390 AM from 10 a.m. to noon, where Dujka is the DJ of “Saturday Morning Dance Time.”

Dujka performs monthly as part of the house band for the Bluebonnet Opry in Brenham as well as the Fayette County Country Music Show in La Grange and has had the chance to play piano with some of country music’s biggest names.

John counts as his most precious blessings his three children: William, age 23; Kalyn, age 21; and Nadia, age 18. He also is blessed with the love and support of Kimberly Macik Jobb, who herself comes from a musical family background.

Dujka would like to thank his colleagues over the years who have helped to build the Blinn Music Department into what it is today. He also would like to thank Chancellor Dr. Mary Hensley and members of the administration for their leadership and support, as well as former chancellors and administrators who helped to make the O’Donnell Performing Arts Center, the Machat Music Facility, and the Schmidt Recital Hall a reality during his tenure.

Most importantly, Dujka is extremely proud of the success of hundreds of music students he has helped during his 32-plus years at Blinn College, many of whom are now his colleagues and friends.