This newspaper article was taken from The Times, Wednesday, August 13, 1997, section B. It was written by Jane Bomberger Langendorff.
ST. JOHN - Joe Malik assumed a hectic, on-the-road schedule recently as Lake Central High School’s new band director.
He found himself alternating between a band camp commitment with students from his former high school in Bradley, Ill., and the Lake Central students who attended camp last week at St. Joseph College in Rensselaer.
Malik, 34, was interviewed July 25 for the Lake Central Position and selected three days later from a field of five candidates. He replaces John Cook, who has accepted a job at a school in an Indianapolis suburb after serving five years with Lake Central.
"The level of experience he had experienced with his Bradley band, the development of his band program, and the similarity of his program stood out," said Lake Central School Corp. Assistant Superintendent Carmine Gentile.
Gentile interviewed Malik, along with teaching and administrative staff members and Band Booster President Brian Johnson of Schererville.
"It’s difficult any time you follow a successful program, but the committee was confident that Joe has the background to maintain the same level of performance," Gentile said.
"Lake Central’s band program is more than a marching program, even though the marching program is important, but it also includes the concert band, jazz band, percussion ensemble, and the Centralettes (dance group)," Johnson said of the post, which will pay Malik about $45,000 annually.
Band Captain Beth Radio, a senior trumpet player, said although students were initially shocked and saddened to hear of Cook’s departure, Malik already has helped the transition through his qualifications and approach.
"Mr. Malik was at band camp for half a day every day; he’s a really nice guy … easy to talk to … and has made it easier to adjust," she said. "It will be exciting to experience band through someone else’s teaching."
Malik’s goal, he said, is to bring music to as many students as possible. His own musical interest began when he was a boy.
"My music background started from my family’s origin being Czech, so by age 6 I was playing polkas and waltzes, in Tucson, Arizona, and Texas," he said.
His wife, Lynette Fraley Malik, is familiar with Northwest Indiana, having grown up in Highland where her father, Joe Fraley, is freshman girls basketball coach at the high school.
Malik will commute to his Bradley home until the family finds a local residence. He commends the Lake Central Band Boosters and school staff members for the support he has received during his transition.
"My Predecessor, John Cook, had built a wonderful program and has made it possible for many opportunities in the future; the opportunities are endless," Malik said. "I look forward to a long and successful career there."