Graduated in the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama as Masters in Music Performance studied with a remarkable tutor, Catherine Harper and an excellent coach, Angela Livingstone in 2011. Born in Sabah, Janet Kan began studying voice at the age of nine, initially under the guidance of Vun Kui Xin and later with Poon Sook Peng and Cecilia Yap. In 2007 she was accepted onto a Bachelor of Education (TESL) at the University of Malaysia, Sabah (UMS). She obtained the ATCL Diploma in voice from the Trinity Examination Board of London with a merit in 2007 and a distinction in Grade 8 from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) in 2003. During her studies she has also participated in master classes with tenor Lim Shieh-Yih in Singapore, Rachelle Gerodias from New York, James Gilchrist, Patricia McMahon and Elin Manahan Thomas in Cardiff.
Janet has participated in many singing competitions. In 2000, she emerged as second runner-up in the Malaysia National Classical Song Singing Competition at Sabah state level. In 2003, she was the champion in the same competition. In 2005, she was the second runner-up this time at national level. She gained the second runner-up spot again at national level in Kuala Lumpur 2008. She was also a finalist in the Côr Meibion Pontypridd Prize, 2009.
Janet made her opera debut as Une Pastourelle in Ravel’s L’Enfant et Les Sortileges with the RWCMD Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David Jones. She also played a role as a Chinese woman in The Fairy Queen during the RWCMD Opera Scene 2009. After she came home in Malaysia in 2013, she had her first solo concert in the Chin Yong Music Festival “The Songs of Great Britain” in 2014. In 2016, Yin Qi choir and symphony orchestra in Felix Mendelssohn’s oratorio, Elijah, invited her as a soprano soloist. In 2017, she performed in an Opera Festival (Opera Kul 2017) Verismo Recital with a famous International soprano Cecilia Yap and a Malaysian excellent tenor Solomon Chong. In Nov 2019, she’s leading a role as the third lady in The Magic Flute opera showcased by Kuala Lumpur City Opera(KLCO). In 2024, she was singing in Rome in collaboration with the Malaysia Embassy of Italy in Concerto di Amicizia.
As well as giving solo performances in Malaysia and internationally, she is also teaching vocal lessons and giving individual singing lessons in church choirs. She was also elected as a judge for a range of singing competitions throughout Malaysia. She’s now a principal singer for Kuala Lumpur of City Opera and also the judge for the BOH Cameronian Arts Award of Malaysia.
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