Celebrating Mrs. Joan Boissonnault: A Career of Dedication and Joy
by Ben Lliguicota
Embedded Files
Mrs. Joan Boissonnault
For three decades, generations of students at Heim Middle School have learned far more than how to play a string instrument. Through encouragement, patience, and a genuine love of music, Mrs. Joan Boissonnault has helped students build confidence, friendships, and lifelong memories. As she retires after 30 years at Heim Middle School, the Williamsville Music Boosters are proud to recognize her dedication to music education and her impact on countless students throughout the district.
Mrs. Boissonnault grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, where music was a constant presence in her home. Her parents sang in church choirs, and all of the children took piano lessons. When it came time to choose an instrument in fourth grade, she immediately gravitated toward the violin. "I just remember going right to the violin," she recalled. "For some reason, I thought I'd want to play violin, and I've always loved it."
After beginning private lessons in sixth grade, Mrs. Boissonnault developed a passion for orchestral music. She fondly remembers joining her first orchestra in high school and spending much of her time in the music department. Those experiences ultimately led her to pursue music in college. One experience from her early years as a violinist would later influence her teaching. After several years of lessons, a teacher noticed that she had developed poor posture while playing and helped her correct it. The adjustment was challenging, but it taught her the importance of building strong fundamentals and paying close attention to technique.
Initially a performance major, Mrs. Boissonnault's career path changed after discovering the Suzuki Method, an approach that emphasizes small, achievable steps and positive reinforcement. She spent more than a decade teaching young children through Suzuki programs, an experience she credits with shaping her teaching philosophy. "With the Suzuki Method, you always try to find something positive about a student's playing," she said. "Even if they made a lot of mistakes, try to find one thing they did well and build on it."
Mrs. Joan Boissonnault conducting Heim 7 & 8 grade orchestra
Before arriving in Williamsville, Mrs. Boissonnault performed professionally while living in Orlando, Florida, where she worked with the Florida Symphony Orchestra (now the Orlando Philharmonic). She also performed with orchestras associated with Walt Disney World concerts while continuing to teach Suzuki students. After moving to Buffalo, she joined Buffalo Suzuki Strings and eventually pursued public school teaching. In 1996, she was hired by Williamsville and began working at both Heim Elementary and Heim Middle School. Over time, Heim Middle became her professional home.
Throughout her career, Mrs. Boissonnault has witnessed remarkable growth in Williamsville's string program. When she first arrived, the district combined students from all three high schools into a single orchestra. Today, each high school supports multiple orchestras of its own. "I've really seen a lot of growth in the string department in my 30 years here," she said.
Many of Mrs. Boissonnault's most rewarding moments come after concerts, when students reflect on their growth. She enjoys seeing the pride students feel after performing music they once thought was beyond their abilities. "I know where they started," she said. "To see the sense of pride in their faces at the end of a concert and how happy they are that they did a good job—that always makes me feel really happy."
Mrs. Joan Boissonnault conducting Heim 5 & 6 grade orchestra
One of her favorite traditions occurs each year after Heim's Side-by-Side Concert, when she bakes homemade chocolate chip cookies for her seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra students. The tradition has become so popular that many students have asked for the recipe, and many former students still remember the cookies years later.
Outside of school, Mrs. Boissonnault enjoys traveling, gardening, fitness, cooking, and baking. Music remains a central part of her life as well. She has performed with the Amherst Symphony, regularly attends concerts, and enjoys listening to jazz with her husband. Her passion for music has also become a family tradition. Her older son, Alex, is a member of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, while her younger son, William, continued playing violin throughout college.
As she prepares for retirement, Mrs. Boissonnault looks forward to spending more time traveling and exploring new opportunities. Yet she leaves knowing that her influence will continue through the thousands of students she has taught over the years. After 30 years at Heim Middle School, Mrs. Joan Boissonnault leaves behind a legacy of kindness, encouragement, and musical excellence; she has helped shape generations of young musicians. For her final concert before retirement, students from grades five through eight came together to perform Beethoven's Ode to Joy, a piece she has long cherished for its message of unity, hope, and the shared joy that music can inspire.
We thank Mrs. Boissonnault for her remarkable career and wish her all the best in retirement!
Page updated
Report abuse