Janice Conrads

***The service will be live streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Bygt1cxmy7qT910Xs6_nw Janice “Jan” Conrads passed away on 10/27/2023 at her home after a short battle with bladder cancer. Jan was an accomplished and highly respected musician throughout her career. She began playing piano at the age of 3, and sang the lead in her first opera while still in high school in her hometown of Cedar Falls, Iowa. She went on to major in vocal performance at the University of Northern Iowa, where she received her Bachelor of Music degree, and spent an additional year there as a graduate student, serving as Music Theory Assistant. After recording and touring in the United States, Europe, Russia, and Poland, Jan continued her formal musical training on full scholarship at the University of Cincinnati’s prestigious College-Conservatory of Music, where she received her Master of Music degree, won first place in the Klose-Seybold Vocal Competition, sang leading and supporting operatic roles, and completed studies for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree. Jan made her professional operatic debut with the Pittsburgh Chamber Opera Theater in 1983, and subsequently sang over 50 leading and supporting operatic and musical theater roles throughout the Great Lakes region. A versatile musician, Jan also worked as a pianist, coach-accompanist, arranger, musical and stage director, spokesperson, actress, vocalist, make-up designer, and costume assistant with various dinner theater companies and theatrical organizations. She also produced, directed, and performed a variety of shows aboard the Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen, and Showboat Majestic Riverboats, and throughout the Midwest, as well as in Windsor, Canada. In addition, Jan served as Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Stoughton Opera Company, as well as Owner, Music Director, and Pianist for the Cabaret on Main Dinner Theater near Madison, Wisconsin. After returning to Iowa in 2007, Jan taught music classes at Hawkeye Community College, served up gourmet food and entertainment at the Waterloo Elk’s Club, and worked as Activity Director for Friendship Village. Most recently, she played piano for Von Maur Department store while entertaining throughout the Cedar Valley as either a solo or duo act, and with her band, The Vinyl Frontier. Jan leaves behind her loving parents Abe and Wilma Jean “Jeanie” Conrads, her amazing sister Rose Marie “Rosie” LaPole and brother-in-law Larry LaPole, nephew Christopher LaPole with wife Jalyn and their daughter Abigail, and nieces Rebecca “Becca” LaPole and Sara Newman, as well as her significant other, Rick Anderson. A time of gathering will begin at 2:00 p.m. with memorial services following at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, November 5, 2023, at Greenhill Baptist Church in Cedar Falls. Friends are invited to join the family for refreshments following the service.

Janice Conrads

December 13, 1953 - October 27, 2023