Janet died peacefully on the 10th January after a battle with dementia in the Broadmead Memorial Lodge Care Home. She is survived by her loving husband, Ken, of 64 years, her daughter Katharine (David), her son Geoffrey (Clare), 13 grandchildren, and 4 great- grandchildren. Janet was born in Tamworth, Ontario to Helen and James Wallace where she spent her early years before the family moved to New Brunswick, first to Sussex, then to Moncton. She studied piano with Ernest Freeborn, and accompanied choirs and the school orchestra at Moncton High School. She went on to Mount Allison University where she obtained a B.Sc. in home economics (cum laude), in 1955, and also studied piano there with Evron Kinsman, and accompanied many singers.
In 1956 Janet travelled to England, where she studied with Robin Wood at the Royal Academy of Music, and in 1957 was awarded the LRAM diploma. She sang for two years with the Royal Choral Society in London, whose members performed regularly in the Royal Albert Hall with the London Symphony under Sir Malcolm Sargent and others.
In 1958 Janet married Ken Leffek in London with the ceremony performed by Lord Donald Soper. They returned to Canada and settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1961. In 1968 Janet met Yvonne Enoch, who introduced her to the group teaching of piano, in classes of eight students with four pianos. She was hired by the Halifax School System in 1971 to teach piano by this method. The programme grew over twelve years until over 200 children and three part-time teachers were involved. It reached its high point in 1980 when 32 of her students playing 16 pianos in the Halifax Metro Centre performed an arrangement of “The Carnival of the Animals” by Saint Saens. This remains to this day a unique performance in the annals of classical music. Sometime later the programme was terminated by the School Board on the grounds that it was elitist. All told Janet taught piano in Halifax for over 30 years and played an active part in the Nova Scotia Registered Music Teachers’ Association of which she was made a life member. For nine years she was also the rehearsal accompanist for the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra Choir. Janet has given lectures and workshops on piano group teaching in Nova Scotia and England and taught the piano pedagogy course at Acadia University for one year as a sabbatical replacement. She has adjudicated at over two dozen music Festivals in the four Atlantic provinces and British Columbia. Janet’s last performances were recitals at Care Homes in Victoria, including a number at the Broadmead Memorial Lodge, where she spent the last two years of her life after she developed dementia. Our special thanks are given to Dr.Christine Roh and the staff of this home for the loving care which they gave Janet during her last years. Donations to Broadmead Care would be greatly appreciated.
A celebration of Janet’s life will be held at a later date.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
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32 Responses
Janet was such a special soul. A wonderous addition to the Heavenly Choir. Our prayers are with you and your family.
Blessings from the Oei family, and the Victoria Branch, BCRMTA.
Dear Ken and family,
I am so sorry to hear of Janet’s death. I have lovely clear memories of her gentle warmth and wonderful piano playing at the Canadian Club of Victoria luncheons and Christmas Tea. My sincerest condolences.
Remembering my lovely Auntie Jan. I am sad but also have so many happy memories of laughter, humour & clothes shopping amongst others. My heart goes out to Uncle Ken, Kathy & David, Geoff & Clare and all of Auntie Jan’s grandchildren.
Much love,
Chrissy
I remember Janet as a warm and kind person. I did practice teaching with her when I was still studying music at Dalhousie University and learned much from her.
Condolences to her husband and family.
Janet was the first music teacher I met when I moved to Halifax in 1987 and she welcomed me so warmly into the Nova Scotia Registered Music Teachers’ Association. I admired her teaching experience and expertise and she was a warm, generous person.
We played some duets together for a while! She was my son’s (Jeff Torbert) first piano teacher and he benefited greatly from her
excellent teaching of piano and theory. She was an inspiration and I remember her with great respect and love.
Several members of the Dartmouth Chapter of NSRMTA became well acquainted with Janet when she offered her piano pedagogy course to us when we were just starting our teaching careers. We realized the breadth of her knowledge and her passion for mentoring younger teachers through this relationship. We also know that she was among the early members of the Dartmouth Chapter NSRMTA before moving to the Halifax Chapter. Her generosity to the Nova Scotia teachers is widely known and appreciated. Our sympathy goes to all her family, friends and former colleagues.
We are very sad- Krystyna & Arnold
I am profoundly sad at the passing of Janet Leffek. I grew up learning to play the piano in her home studio, playing hide and seek in her backyard; our two families shared many happy times, from sabbaticals in England together to Christmas gatherings (where the young’uns fought over the Christmas pudding & hard sauce!) and swims at the Ritchie Drive Pool. Janet played piano at my wedding. We all missed the Leffeks when they moved to Victoria, but when they came back to Nova Scotia to visit, Janet always came for lunch; she was warmth and kindness embodied, and I was delighted to be able to keep in touch with her. Janet was a talented musician and a dedicated teacher, but she was also a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother ! I marvelled that she taught piano to her grandchildren in New Brunswick from her home in Victoria – on Zoom ! Now that is dedication. I will miss her smile. I will be in Victoria in a few weeks and I look forward to spending time with Kathy, Ken and the family. Sending much love to you all.
So sorry to hear this very talented lady has passed. My sincere condolences to her lovely and also very talented daughter Katherine and family!
Janet was a highly respected colleague and beloved friend to many. Due to her generosity, the Nova Scotia Registered Music Teachers’ Association is able to administer the Janet Leffek Fund, which enables music teachers to further their professional development. Janet will be greatly missed by many.