guest narrator
Janice Rivers Lancaster is a lifelong Tampa Bay resident who earned both her Bachelor and Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of South Florida. She dedicated 35 years to teaching music in Hillsborough County Public Schools, serving as an elementary music teacher, Music/Art Administrative Resource Teacher, and Federal Arts in Education Grant Facilitator, and later taught K–8 Music Methods at USF. A longtime leader in music education, she served the Florida Elementary Music Educators Association as Executive Secretary, President, and Past President, chaired state committees for the Florida Music Educators Association, and received multiple honors including the Elementary Innovative Project Award, Music Educator of the Year Award, and the FMEA Leadership Award. She has also been a conference clinician, curriculum editor, and guest conductor for All-County Elementary Choruses across several Florida counties.
A member of Sigma Alpha Iota for over 50 years, Janice remains active in the Tampa Alumnae Chapter, serving as Treasurer and Grant Committee Chair and supporting annual awards for K–8 music teachers. She has contributed more than thirty composition transcriptions to the SAI Philanthropies Bold Notes Project for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. In retirement, she is deeply involved at New Hope Church of Brandon through music and ministry leadership, and treasures time with her husband of 51 years, Paul, their children, grandchildren, and opportunities to travel.