Jan DeGaetani

The versatile mezzo-soprano Jan DeGaetani pursued vocal training at New York’s Juilliard School of Music under Sergius Kagen. Her first New York appearance took place in 1958. Worldwide recognition followed her performance in the 1970 premiere of George Crumb’s Ancient Voices of Children, presented at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. She also introduced compositions by Peter Maxwell Davies (A stone litany; Black Pentecost), Richard Wernick (Visions of wonder and terror), William Schuman (In sweet music), and Elliott Carter (Syringa). Although contemporary scores formed the core of her reputation, DeGaetani explored an unusually broad spectrum of repertoire, encompassing the medieval Play of Herod, songs by John Dowland, German lieder, French mélodies, and works by Stephen Foster and Charles Ives.

Throughout her professional life she performed regularly with nearly every leading orchestra in England and the United States, most often in music by living composers. Frequent collaborations with the Contemporary Chamber Ensemble yielded distinguished readings, among them Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire. Additional engagements included appearances with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and with Speculum Musicae. Audiences and critics alike responded to the intelligence and wide expressive compass of her singing, qualities that allowed her to reach popular listeners as well as specialists in new music. In 1973 she joined the faculty of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, as professor of voice and continued teaching there until her death. Among her pupils, soprano Dawn Upshaw emerged as the most prominent. Summer sessions at the Aspen Music Festival supplemented her Eastman duties, and she conducted master classes during recital tours to share her commitment to contemporary music with younger singers.