She worked as a secretary for Chartered Accountants, Routley & Routley from 1982 to 1983 and then for Opera Australia from 1984 to 1987 in the artistic and marketing departments creating the company's photographic and audio visual archives. In 1986 she was awarded the George Sautelle Prize for outstanding potential, and came second in the 32nd Shell Aria contest at the Canberra School of Music.[1] That same year she won "The Marianne Mathy" first prize at the Australian Singing Competition (ASC).[2] Within a year she appeared in a radio concert with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under David Agler,[3] She spent 1987 in London, studying singing privately with Vida Harford and numerous vocal coaches before being asked to join Opera Australia's Young Artists' Programme in 1988. That year, she was one of eight artists chosen to perform highlights of opera and operetta in the Great Hall at the opening of the new Parliament House, Canberra.[4]
She continued her vocal studies throughout her career working with such teachers and coaches as Sena Jurinac, György Fischer, Ernest St John Metz, Rita Loving and David Harper.
Operatic career
Janes performed as a principal mezzo soprano from 1988 to 2014 throughout Australia, UK and Europe.
Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation and Elizabeth Connell Scholarship Trust
In 2010, Janes became the CEO and Artistic Director and was a founding director of the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation[1], a Sydney based charity that provides scholarships for young singers. She created of the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award in 2011, one of Australia's major operatic singing competitions. In 2014, she created the Sydney International Song Prize to encourage Art Song in Australia. To date, the Foundation has awarded over $1million in scholarships to young musicians.
In 2012, she was asked by the South African soprano Elizabeth Connell, prior to her death, to create a scholarship in her name and to be a founding trustee for the Elizabeth Connell Scholarship Trust. Janes created the Elizabeth Connell International Singing Competition for Dramatic Sopranos in 2014 which was presented under the umbrella of the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation.[7] To date it has awarded over $450,000 to aspiring female singers.[8]
She gives Masterclasses for young emerging singers and has been a judge for many of the major singing competitions throughout Australia including the Australian Singing Competition, Sydney Eisteddfod, Bathurst Eisteddfod and the Herald Sun Aria competition.[9] She is the principal judge for the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award and the Elizabeth Connell Prize.[10]
In 2020, she wrote the Introduction and co-produced Richard Bonynge's book Chalet Monet: Inside the Home of Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge, published by Melbourne Books.
Charity work
In 2004, she was invited to perform at Australia House in London for the Tate Memorial Trust, conducted by Richard Bonynge in the presence of H.R.H. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwell. Throughout her performing career she has performed in concert for numerous charities including for Opera Australia, Aids research, Deaf & Blind Charity and Children's Hospital, Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation, Opera & Arts Support Group, Tait Memorial Trust in London.
Positions
1988 – 2007 Principal Artist with Opera Australia
1992 – 2014 Freelance Principal Opera Singer
2010 Founding Director of the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation
2010 – present CEO and Artistic Director of the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation
2012 Founding Trustee for the Elizabeth Connell Scholarship
2012 - present CEO and Artistic Director of the Elizabeth Connell Prize
Joan Sutherland My Favourites 2020 CD (Decca Article piece)
Romantic French Arias Joan Sutherland CD (Decca Article piece) [2]
References
^"Shell Aria very even contest". The Canberra Times. Vol. 60, no. 18, 534. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 30 June 1986. p. 11. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Today's radio". The Canberra Times. Vol. 61, no. 18, 772. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 25 February 1987. p. 20. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
