Jackson Poling never expected a music career to be a part of his life, but a surprising spark of curiosity led him to change his mind and in time, his entire future.
By Maggie Clark, Marketing and Communications
Since graduating from Douglas College’s Diploma in Music, Jackson Poling’s performances have been heard across the province of British Columbia.
As an accomplished pianist, he has filled his life with musical opportunities, performing with indie pop band Orchid Orchestra, teaching piano and collaborating with school choirs. He even recently had his own orchestral composition performed and recorded by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as part of the Jean Coulthard Readings.
While success has continued to follow his career, music didn’t always strike a chord with him.
Starting off on the wrong note
When Jackson first picked up a trumpet in elementary school, he couldn’t have imagined that music would one day become the centre of his life. Uncomfortable with expressing himself creatively at the time and uncertain about the point of playing music, Jackson didn’t understand why so many of his peers chose to pursue it.
It took a new experience for Jackson to see why others found playing music so compelling.
A playful discovery
Jackson’s musical awakening arose from an interest in video games. While indifferent to picking up a physical instrument, he found himself drawn to virtual ones in apps like Magic Piano. It was his first exposure to classical music, sparking an appreciation for the genre and presenting him with a life-changing decision.
“I remember falling in love with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 and many other classical pieces like it,” Jackson says. “The only way to really recreate those pieces myself was through the piano that my family had at home, so I thought ‘Why not just start learning to play right here?’”
Unable to read sheet music, he strove to recreate his favourite melodies by ear.
What started out as curiosity quickly became a passion. By the time he entered high school, Jackson was already writing his own music, taking a class in composition taught by his high school’s band teacher while also studying the Royal Conservatory of Music at the Langley Community Music School.
Read more: Music Technology grad finds dream music-related career in sound therapy through Douglas
Fine-tuning a music career
Determined to pursue a career in music after graduating high school, Jackson enrolled in Douglas’s Diploma in Music. Except this time, classical pieces were not his focus.
“I actually chose Douglas’s program because it was less classical and offered a look at a diverse range of genres like fusion and jazz,” Jackson says. “I wanted to cover my bases and explore these new genres.”
That variety became a cornerstone of his experience. He jammed with several bands, playing a variety of music, including funk, learned to improvise musically, and even joined a small jazz group to perform at the College’s graduation ceremonies, which Jackson continues to do to this day alongside a rotating group of Douglas alumni.
“My time at Douglas gave me the confidence to perform with bands outside of a school setting,” he says. “It wouldn’t have been possible without the Performance-Based Tuition Scholarship.”
This scholarship helped support both years of Jackson’s education and encouraged him to take as many courses as possible, opening the doors to a stronger musical skill set and additional networking.
Read more: Empowered with a Douglas scholarship, this Music alum transfers to UBC with plans to teach music
Creating a symphony of success
After graduation, Jackson made good use of his skills and networking, leading him to teach piano at Prelude Piano Studios, perform with Orchid Orchestra and play with elementary school choirs through the Vancouver Extracurricular Music Society. He even has plans to play piano for a ballet studio.
But one of the biggest highlights of his career has been having his work performed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. He now aims to further specialize in the field with a master’s degree in composition.
“Writing music is what’s most fulfilling to me,” Jackson says. “It’s my dream, and to hear a full orchestra bring my composition to life was amazing. Pursuing a master’s degree could open doors to join music committees, where I’d have even more opportunities to see my work performed by orchestras.”
Learn more about the Diploma in Music program at Douglas College.