Janis Kaplan

Cellist, Violinist, Educator

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Growing up in an Upstate New York community where the Arts flourished, Janis Kaplan was introduced to the cello at the age of nine by her public school system. As she developed into a skilled player, Janis studied privately with David Mordoff and Stephen Stalker. She also studied violin from the age of 14 with Barb Lundy and Kathy Murphy. Being surrounded in her youth by teachers who were performing in locally accessible ensembles brought Janis into a world she wishes to pass on as an educator. 

While a young student, Janis absorbed many opportunities to play with the Binghamton Philharmonic and Summer Savoyards, she was principal cellist of the Binghamton Youth Symphony, and played first violin in a student busking quartet. As she transitioned to college, she was the winner of multiple music scholarship competitions. Janis received her most intensive training from “Queen of Cellists”, the late Zara Nelsova, while studying cello performance at Rutgers’ Mason Gross School of the Arts in New Brunswick, NJ.

Also an educator, Janis specializes in introducing musical concepts and experiences to very young children. Assisting a music therapist at Rutgers sent Janis on a caregiving path working with preschoolers. In 2006, Janis received her Certificate in Early Childhood Education from Raritan Valley Community College. Upon graduation, she was awarded the Certificate of Excellence in her degree program, with the department citing her use of rhythm with toddlers.  Within her twelve years of preschool classroom experience, Janis became a tailor of age appropriate and engaging music and movement classes for two-to four-year old’s. She has led several professional development workshops guiding Early Educators across the state of New Jersey to use music functionally in their classrooms and has delivered personalized enrichment programs to preschools.

For the last decade, Janis has fully embraced her “performer” side. She regularly plays cello in the Hunterdon Symphony Orchestra, the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, and plays the violin with the Somerset Symphony Orchestra. As an orchestral player, Janis has had the pleasure of performing on the stages of SOPAC, NJPAC, the Paramount Theater, and the Great Auditorium in New Jersey; Avery Fisher Hall, Trinity Church, Merkin Hall, and the DiMenna Center in NYC.  Additionally, Janis performs for special celebrations and gives recitals; she is the cellist for the Evolution Strings and the Capricorn Trio, and is the founder of LAWNCELLOS. Janis privately teaches people of all ages violin and cello in Hunterdon County New Jersey.