Jan Graham (Pranschke) was born October 24, 1946 in Steubenville, Ohio. Her family moved to Hudson Falls as she began her Junior year of high school. Her musical and vocal talent was immediately recognized and encouraged by Joyce Irwin. Being a member of the Choraliers and having many solo opportunities were key elements in Jan’s musical development. Jan earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Miss Irwin’s alma mater, Ithaca College.
Jan studied opera at Mannes College and Juilliard. She made her professional opera debut with the Santa Fe Opera and sang 35 leading roles with opera companies throughout the US: Chautauqua Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Glimmerglass Opera Theatre, Washington DC Opera, Peoria Opera and most notably, five consecutive seasons with the Asolo Opera (now Sarasota Opera). Her roles included Mimi in La Boheme, Marguerite in Faust, Adina in L’elisir D’amore, Melisande in Pelleas and Melisande, and Butterfly in Madam Butterfly.
As a winner of the Artist Management International Music Competition, she was presented in her New York concert debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and as winner of the Liederkranz Foundation Vocal Competition, she made her Carnegie Hall concert debut. Winning many awards, Jan gained national recognition as a winner in the Metropolitan Opera Audition finals and as a winner of the Munich (Germany) Vocal Competition.
Jan was President of The New York Singing Teacher’s Association (NYSTA) and founding director of NYSTA’s Professional Development Program (PDP). In recognition of her work establishing the PDP, a scholarship was created in her name: The Janet Pranschke Professional Development Scholarship grants full tuition to NYSTA’s 5-course Core Curriculum of Anatomy, Acoustics, Vocal Health, Repertoire and Pedagogy. Jan retired in 2018 from serving on the voice faculty of Wagner College for 32 years and teaching voice privately.
Jan has two daughters and resides on Staten Island with her husband Timothy. She continues to sing with the St. Cecilia Music Society, directs the chorus and is a soloist member of her church choir.