MARLBOROUGH – Jack Brzenk is making the rounds.
He has performed in Framingham and Marlborough – wherever he can find an open mic or coffeehouse.
A junior at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, Brzenk’s first album, “Wilson Street,” dropped on March 18.
“It’s going great,” he said about the past few months.
The album features songs that Brzenk began writing six years ago. He spent a lot of time in the past three years writing, finalizing and producing his music. He officially announced the album in the fall of 2021.
“Jack is a very talented young musician,” said Superintendent Ernest Houle. “His first album release clearly demonstrates that he has a bright future in music ahead of him, and we are grateful that his Assabet education has contributed to his success.”
Meet Jack Brzenk
Music has played a large part in Brzenk’s life. He began writing music as a way to cope with the loss of both his grandparents when he was 10 years old.
“I wrote my own music as a way to connect to other people who’ve been going through the same thing,” he said.
Brzenk was also a member of both his school and church choir. While he was in third grade at St. Bridget School in Framingham, he became involved in Marian High School’s theater productions and began taking piano lessons with his mentor, Stephen Flynn.
Brzenk spent several years writing dozens of songs with his ukulele and piano. In 2020, he began creating an album that tells the story of the highs and lows of his family’s experiences, COVID-19 and his peer relationships. In 2021, he started learning how to produce the songs digitally.
He said his biggest inspiration is AJR, a group that produces all its music in its living room.
Brzenk utilized his laptop, Logic Pro, a USB mic and a MIDI keyboard to record each song.
By February, he had finalized the album’s 13 tracks.
He added that his success would not be possible without the help he has received during his three years at Assabet.
“My time at Assabet has been so important to my music career thus far,” said Brzenk. “As a design and visual communications student, I’ve learned how to design graphics, edit videos and market products through advertising on social media.
“The music program and its director, Mr. Derek Tenzar, has given me amazing opportunities to learn more about music and songwriting, and has allowed me to play my originals in front of audiences at the winter and spring concerts. The skills I’ve learned at Assabet have allowed me to thrive both as a student and as a musician,” he said.
His mother, Tricia Brzenk, also said that they “could not be happier” with the experiences Assabet has offered her son over the past three years.
“He has been taught skills and given opportunities in his classes that he would never have gotten at any other school in our area,” she said. “Assabet provides their students with experiences that promote their talents and interests. We are so grateful that Jack has been able to thrive at this school.”
“Wilson Street” is available on a variety of platforms. To listen, visit https://linktr.ee/wilsonstreet?utm_source=linktree_profile_share.
