Janet Elizabeth Hammock

I was born and raised in Vancouver, BC, in the days when it was easy to cross the Lions Gate Bridge at any time of day, and the Pacific was clean, sparkling and superb for swimming! After high school graduation I pursued my musical studies at the University of Toronto, graduating in 1963 with an Artist Diploma. I immediately headed to NYC where I studied piano for two amazing years.

Following a glorious summer at the Yale Summer School of Art and Music I entered Yale University as a graduate student (MM 1970, DMA 1975), then lived in California for 5 years where I taught music at Whittier College. In 2003 I was appointed Professor Emeritus of Music at Mount Allison University where I taught from 1975 to 2001 — piano majors, chamber music, collaborative piano, Keyboard History and Literature, and a course of my own design entitled “Sonic Explorations” which centred on the meditative practice of Deep Listening.

My recitals of solo and collaborative piano music have been presented across Canada, in the United States, and in Europe. I have always championed the performance of new music. On November 9, 2009, during the Canadian Music Centre’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, I was honoured as one of 50 Ambassadors of Canadian music. These lifetime achievement awards were given to outstanding Canadian performers and conductors who have played exceptional roles in shaping the Canadian music scene and raised the profile of Canadian music.

During the past six years I have enjoyed teaching Music Appreciation to enthusiastic seniors at the Tantramar Seniors’ College in Sackville, presenting Skyloft Studio solo piano recitals, and touring with the Two Oceans Trio. In fall 2016 I will tour with Professor David Rogosin of Mount Allison University, presenting a program that will premiere two piano duets written especially for us by New Brunswick composers Kevin Morse and Richard Gibson.

My program series “Fly Me To the Moon” is broadcast every other Sunday on CFTA 107.9 FM Tantramar Community Radio at 1:00 pm. The programs are also live-streamed on the station website and then archived. The programming is mainly classical music but encompasses other musical genres and types such as jazz, blues, country, cross-over and world musics. New Music of today is always played, and I feature compositions by Canadian composers, performed by Canadian musicians. My informal commentary prepares listeners to fully enjoy the music. Upcoming 2015 guests include artist Virgil Hammock, poet Marilyn Lerch and pianist/aikido shodan Dr. David Rogosin.

I am a member of both the New Brunswick and the Canadian Registered Music Teachers’ Associations, the Sackville Music Teachers’ Association, and WFNB.