In Harmony

The first time I met Singing City's members as its incoming Executive Director, I was told that Janet Yamron would remember me. I was doubtful. The last time I saw Janet was probably 1990. Physically, I’d changed significantly from the skinny teenager to the not-so-skinny, completely bald man in his late 50s that I am now. The one thing in common I still have with my younger self is a distinctive speaking voice and facial hair.

Singing in a Temple University choir that Janet directed, I remember her as tough, demanding (in all the right ways), and, at about 5'3", possessing a truly towering presence. At the time, I found her intimidating, both as a conductor and as Temple University’s Assistant Dean. Getting to know her again now, I see something more: a woman who is as charming and insightful as she is exacting, and still as passionate about choral singing as ever.

Sure enough, after I said my hello and stepped out of the rehearsal so that our Artistic and Music Director, Rollo A. Dilworth, could begin, Janet approached me and said, “Excuse me… Do I know you?” I assured her that she did.

There was a pause, a careful look, and then recognition. Not immediate, but genuine. The kind that comes from someone who has spent a lifetime truly seeing people.

And in that moment, I was reminded that the formidable presence I remembered was only part of the story. It is that instinct that has defined Janet Yamron’s extraordinary legacy.

Now 93 years old, Janet has been part of Singing City since the 1950s, when she was recruited into the organization by its visionary founder, Elaine Brown, and worked alongside her. That connection alone places her at the very heart of Singing City’s history. But Janet did not simply witness that history, she helped shape it. She often credits Elaine Brown as a teacher and mentor who pushed her, shaping not only her musicianship but her sense of purpose, and who later became a trusted friend. As a longtime member of the choir and later as a member of its Board of Directors, she has given decades of leadership, insight, and unwavering commitment to the organization’s mission.

For those of us who studied with her, Janet set a standard. Rehearsals were focused. Expectations were clear. Musicality mattered, but so did discipline, preparation, and respect for the ensemble. She demanded your best because she believed you were capable of it, even when you weren’t so sure yourself.

Over time, what becomes even clearer is that the rigor was never the point. It was the vehicle. Beneath it was a deep belief in people, in community, and in the power of music to connect us to something larger than ourselves.

That belief is woven into Singing City’s DNA, and it lives on in everything we do today.

It is also why honoring Janet at this year’s “Carrying the Song Forward” celebration feels so profoundly right. The phrase

speaks to continuity, to stewardship, and to the idea that each generation builds upon the work of those who came before.

Few embody that idea more completely than Janet Yamron. She is, in every sense, a living bridge between Singing City’s founding era and its future.

In preparing to celebrate her, I have been struck by how many people share a story similar to mine. They may not remember every piece of repertoire or every rehearsal detail, but they remember how Janet made them feel: challenged, supported, seen, and ultimately transformed.

That is a rare and lasting gift.

For me, it comes back to that brief exchange at rehearsal. After decades, after so many changes, Janet still paused to ask, to look, and to connect the dots. That instinct to recognize, to remember, and to care is at the heart of her legacy.

And it is exactly what it means to carry the song forward.

To honor Janet Yamron is to honor a lifetime of music, mentorship, and community. It is also a chance for all of us to take part in that legacy.

This year’s annual celebration,Carrying the Song Forward, is more than an event. It is an opportunity to gather, reflect, and ensure that Singing City continues to do the work that Janet has modeled for decades: bringing people together through the power of choral singing.

I hope you will join us forCarrying the Song Forward.

• Saturday, April 11
• 4:00–7:00 PM
• Arch Street Meeting House

Your presence, your support, and your belief in this work help ensure that the song continues, for generations to come. Get your ticketstoday and we look forward to seeing you there to celebrate Janet and Singing City.