A PARTIALLY blind teacher was awarded the Ealing Festival Silver Baton for best choral conductor.
Marek Maryniak, 59, of Chiswick, was presented with the baton in a ceremony on June 20.
Despite suffering from a degenerative eye condition that has caused him to be partially blind, Mr Maryniak is a music teacher at three schools: St Augustine’s Priory in Hillcrest Road, Ealing, Bourne Primary School in Cedar Avenue, Ruislip and Guildhall School of Music & Drama in Silk Street, Barbican.
Mr Maryniak said: “I imagine music visually in my head. I can see enough of the children to know where they are, but I can’t see their faces, so I rely on my colleagues for help.”
He praised the dedication of the children, some as young as seven, who arrive at school before eight in the morning to practice.
Bourne Primary Headteacher Geraldine Mappley described Mr Maryniak as highly skilled and devoted.
Ealing Festival is held across Ealing every year and sees performers of all ages compete with each other for awards.
It is a registered charity, affiliated to the British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech and is one of 300 similar events across the country.
