Mrs Janet Canetty-Clarke

Janet trained at the Royal Academy of Music, London, and was soon involved in the musical life of South-East England. She recently completed 37 years as Conductor and Musical Director of the Ditchling Choral Society – having performed most of the major choral works with them, together with prestigious orchestras and soloists. She has been appointed Conductor Emeritus of the Choral Society. Janet lectures throughout the year for the Continuing Education Department of Sussex University, for the Workers' Educational Association, for the University of the Third Age and presents individual lectures for London University through Birbeck College.

In 1984 she was appointed lecturer for the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies, visiting organisations in this country and across Europe; touring Australia in 1994 and 2001, and South Africa in 1997.

Also in 1984, Janet was appointed Guest Conductor of Die Erste Frauen-Kammerorchester von Osterreich, the first all women chamber orchestra of Austria, and with them she took part in the opening concert of the Vienna Festival held that year in the famous GroBer Saal of the Musikverein.

Twenty years ago Janet was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music London, in recognition of her services to music, and was also made a Warden of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, London 2000-2001. In October 1998, Janet attended the Women of the Year Luncheon held at the Savoy Hotel, London, and was later invited to go to Brussels in March 2000 to participate in a Round Table for Women Conductors – entitled ‘Femmes Maestros’ – where she was appointed Deputy Secretary General.

In June 2010 Janet gave two pre-performance talks before Mozart's opera 'The Marriage of Figaro' at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and before Rossini's opera "La Cenerentola" at the Glydebourne Opera House in Sussex.