Tribute from Maureen & Don McCanlis

“A tribute to Jonny Webb: Jonny: an extraordinarily talented
musician, colleague and family friend”

Don and I had known Jonny for almost 23 years – just about half of his life – and it was back in 1995 that Jonny applied for the post of clarinet teacher at MHCHS for two days a week.  His CV was clearly impressive as a performer, having won the National Festival of Music for Youth Open Jazz Competition at the age of 16 and going on to being finalist of Trinity College of Music’s top instrumental award, the Harold Clarke Prize for Woodwind. It soon became apparent that he had much more to offer than teaching solely the clarinet, and within a short period of time he increased his teaching to include saxophone, flute and Jazz piano.  Jonny’s warm and friendly personality and ‘easy going’ manner attracted more students to have lessons with him until he was teaching a record number of pupils every day of the week.

Jonny was also a very good listener.  He would listen to his students about their complaints, worries, triumphs and successes whilst always being totally professional.  His teaching room always felt a very safe place to be. The Music corridor is a great social meeting point for colleagues, and we music staff at some point each day meet up for a coffee and a chat, and inevitably we build up a very close bond. The ambience is just not quite the same, and never will be.

We all know that Jonny possessed a quirky sense of humour.  He would always welcome them in with his trademark phrase: ‘Doo come in.  Doo set up’.  Indeed, he was able to get the best out of all his students – even those who found learning music challenging. When teaching our own pupils, we would often suddenly hear ‘mad’ soprano singing coming from Jonny’s room resonating throughout the Music corridor. Jonny certainly made his lessons interesting, as well as lots of fun.  Indeed, we are all mourning the loss of a truly remarkable teacher and wonderful musician.

Jayne Barnes, our present Director of Music set up a ‘Book of Remembrance’ for students and colleagues to write their special memories of Jonny – it’s also a place for his students to feel close to Jonny.  Here are just a couple of quotes from the book:

“I could never have done a solo performance for the first time without one of the greatest freestyle jazz pianists I know and I can’t thank you enough for being there to encourage me.”

“You would always have a smile on your face whatever the situation. You would always put a smile on my face, make me laugh and teach the saxophone amazingly! You will always be missed and loved.”

During Jonny’s time at school, he was always up to a challenge or two, and after an oboe student was added to his teaching list he decided to learn the oboe and passed grade 3.  He later learned the bassoon specifically for the Remembrance service one year.  Surprisingly, he then went on to learn the violin and achieved grade 4, although he did struggle somewhat with learning the vibrato technique, and in the exam, he ended up shaking the whole violin to create his vibrato sound, much to the amusement of the examiner! However, it was his expertise as an accompanist of pop songs and jazz music that Jonny particularly excelled, being able to improvise and accompany stylistically and sympathetically, not only for his own pupils but also for numerous singers.  He featured in the majority of concerts displaying his brilliant accompaniment techniques for singers in particular, by playing rhythm and chords on an electric keyboard with his left hand, whilst adding melodic interjections with his right hand on the piano – and usually all from memory.  Don clearly had indeed appointed a real gem who considerably enhanced the standard of the Music at MHCHS in so many ways.

Jonny also played a large part in our musical shows over many years. He became our expert ‘sound technician’ and he spent many hours of his own time setting up the sound system, often to be seen up a ladder making sure microphones were correctly positioned, as well as adjusting the levels to ensure the soloists and chorus were finely balanced with the band. He was indeed a perfectionist, and second best just wouldn’t do. Jonny was also an invaluable member of the show band, playing both clarinet, alto, tenor and sometimes baritone saxophones – the alto sax being his ultimate forte – and he always made the band sound so professional.

Jonny joined us on most of our Band Tours abroad. We will always remember on our second band tour to Barcelona in 2006, we were spending the day at a water park.  He was going down the longest slide when he came to a sudden halt midway, he got up and started walking down the slide – he was then severely chastised by the guard at the top of the slide, which was followed by raucous laughter from our students which resonated throughout the whole park! Jonny was always such great fun to be with for both students and staff. He was of course invaluable on the tours acting as our sound technician and filling in on any of the wind instruments we needed to boost our melodies.  On our Presentation Evenings, students would present staff with a memorable gift; and over the years Jonny amassed a collection of various animal type cuddly toys all of which became decorative features in his teaching room.

Of course, with Don being Director of Music until 2006 and thereafter myself until 2013, we both became firm and lifelong friends of Jonny, and we often met up in the holidays. He had already built up a strong friendship with our daughter Fiona, having taught her the saxophone for a number of years whilst she was at the school, and Jonny met our two sons on the occasions he visited us in our home.  We were so delighted when he agreed to join us on a family holiday to France.  We, as a family, have such special memories of Jonny from that time and it was so lovely to spend quality time with him.

It seems incredible to think that Jonny won’t be performing at our concerts in the future.  His untimely passing, at such a young age has come as a great shock to so many – his ‘family’ at MHCHS will remember him for a great many years to come.

Jonny is irreplaceable – he was a unique musician, and he is a tragic loss to us all. Don and I will forever appreciate his loyal support and willingness to contribute so freely to the Music of MHCHS.  We were a unique team taking Music to the highest level.  Of course, Jonny must be remembered for all the opportunities he created and provided for our musicians and, above all, his amazing talent for providing skilful and accomplished accompaniments for his students which always took their performances to a higher dimension. Jonny will be remembered for his sense of humour and fun, and of course for his dedication to the pupils he taught, past and present, many of whom are here today to show their utmost thanks, love, admiration and respect for Jonny.

Jonny will be so very sadly missed by us all.   Jonny – thank you for your music.