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Musical Jane
Singer
Pianist
Voice Teacher
Royal
Conservatory of Music Examiner
Workshop
Specialist
Festival
Adjudicator
Music Arranger
Guitarist
A Short Bio
Jane holds a
Bachelor of Music degree (in Voice and Music Education) from the University of
Toronto, and studied voice privately with Helen Simmie. Her Royal Conservatory
of Music credentials include both Performer’s and Teacher’s A.R.C.T. diplomas in
Singing, and Grade 10 in Piano. During her years as a member of the College of
Examiners of the Royal Conservatory of Music, she has also been one of their
voice workshop specialists, making presentations nationally (e.g. Edmonton,
AB; Markham, ON).
Her first love
is performing, with a history that covers recital engagements, music theatre, oratorio, opera, Broadway revues, and pop/jazz performances. In September 2003, Jane produced
and sang a solo concert entitled “Follow Your Bliss” (with John Gladwell on
piano) at Toronto’s Heliconian Hall, which was recorded on CD and DVD.
Following up on that success, she and John returned to the Heliconian this past
March (2006) for a concert entitled "Among Friends", where they were joined by
musical buddies in various solo, duet and trio combinations. This also
marked the debut stage performance of 'Chordielle', an a cappella trio for which
Jane writes the voice arrangements and sings with co-members Marlo Alcock and
Anne Wilde.
In November 2004,
Jane performed a concert entitled “Autumn Melodies” accompanied
on piano by her mother, Elsie Loewen, to celebrate their shared musical passion
and 'milestone birthdays' (don't ask!!). Other local
engagements include the lead role of Yum Yum in The Mikado with the
Scarborough Gilbert and Sullivan Society, two years as a singer/pianist in the
Victorian dinner theatre production Officers 1893, the female lead in
A Little Night Broadway at the Ford Centre for the Performing Arts, and
guest solo appearances in choral concerts (e.g. Mississauga Festival Choir).
Jane has performed solo recitals at Hart House and the Faculty of Music’s Walter
Hall, as well as for local churches as charity fundraisers. Her ensemble
experience includes Opera Hamilton, Tapestry Music Theatre, Toronto Operetta
Theatre, Toronto Opera Repertoire, and numerous choirs including the Toronto
Mendelssohn Choir. Jane entertains
frequently at private functions and local venues, often using her keyboard
skills as well as her vocal talents. One of her favourite gigs? ... fronting a
band comprised of fellow IT professionals/friends at the Skydome Hard Rock Cafe, as lead vocalist and keyboard player. As she
says, “We had a blast!”
Teaching
remains close to Jane’s heart and she maintains a private studio at her home in
Uxbridge. She enjoys examining for the RCM across Canada every year, and
adjudicates at local music festivals. Until their closing in 1993, Jane taught
voice at the Etobicoke and Oakville branches of the Royal Conservatory of
Music. Other previous teaching experience includes vocal coach for the Bach
Children’s Chorus, teaching assistant at the University of Toronto Faculty of
Music, and itinerant music teacher for the Toronto Board of Education. Besides
her teaching, Jane writes music arrangements, both for her students and for
performance ensembles, and provides piano accompaniment to her students for
exams and other performances. A high point? ... accompanying a student at
the CNE Bandshell as a finalist in the Summer Festival competition, a delightful
girl who has gone on to great success as a performer.
"Civilization is spread more by singing than by anything else,
because whole bunches can sing a particular song
where not every man can join in on the same conversation.
A song ain't nothing but a conversation fixed up
to where
you can talk it over and over without getting tired of it."
-
Woody Guthrie
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