Five minutes with Ms Bronwyn Potter
If you’ve ever seen Junior School Music Teacher, Ms Bronwyn Potter, lead a performance, you know it’s unforgettable—from her sparkly pink ‘Look’ glasses to her expressive conducting style, Ms Potter has a brilliant way of captivating her young students and their audience. You might then be as surprised as we were to read her final answer to this interview. A beloved teacher, conductor and violinist, Ms Potter has spent the past decade bringing music to life at Radford College, both as an educator and a parent. In this interview, she reflects on her favourite teaching memories and her most cherished performances.
Congratulations on reaching your ten-year milestone at Radford College — a remarkable achievement! Over the years, you've experienced the College both as a dedicated staff member and as a parent. Reflecting on this unique dual perspective, what are the three things you’ve come to appreciate most about the Radford community?
I think the thing I appreciate most is the way the community comes together — especially when someone is experiencing challenging times, in their professional or personal life. I know from experience when I was facing a particularly difficult time, the Radford community gathered around me and all but carried me through it.
From a parental viewpoint, the care and support that staff provide our students is remarkable, especially when they arrive from another school and are trying to find their place — again, the Radford community rallies around.
The other thing I appreciate is the work-life balance. While this is something I’m not very good at, Radford consciously makes every effort to ensure there is a balance between our school and home lives.
You wear many musical hats – teacher, conductor, performer – how do these roles influence each other in your daily life?
Most of the time the lines blur and it’s difficult to distinguish one from the other. A teacher is a conductor and performer; a conductor is a performer and a teacher… In my case, I don’t think you can separate the three.
What first drew you to teaching music in the Junior School, and what do you love most about working with young musicians?
Like many music specialists, I began in the secondary space. I fell into the junior space almost by accident when the school I was working at gave me Year 3 and 4 classes to fill a vacancy. I fell in love with the under ten age group and have never looked back. I love the inherent enthusiasm and willingness of younger students to try anything new. They’re not shy about singing and moving and being a little silly from time to time – all the most fun things about learning music.
You’ve been involved in so many musicals across the region – what keeps you coming back to the orchestra pit?
While the three to four weeks of showtime is exhausting, it is also energising. I guess the best way to describe the pit is as my happy place. I also get to play so many different genres, from the classical Gilbert and Sullivans (The Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore) to Hollywood classics (Oliver! and The Sound of Music), swing jazz (Guys and Dolls and Nice Work if You Can Get It) and rock/punk (Next to Normal and American Idiot).
Do you have a favourite musical you’ve played in, and why does it stand out to you?
The last musical I played in is always my current favourite. So, at the moment, it’s Legally Blonde. Before that, it was American Idiot, because it was so wildly out of my classical training experience. If I had to choose just one favourite I’ve played in, it would have to be West Side Story.
People would be surprised to know that...
I am actually painfully shy. The whole Mrs Potter persona is just a front.