Musical memorial planned Sunday for Stotts

MAT-SU — Former choir members and music students, friends, family and colleagues of Janet Stotts will gather to celebrate her life and honor her legacy from 2 to 4:30 p.m., May 17, at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 16300 E. Domain Lane, Eagle River.

The longtime director of Alaska Children’s Choir died of breast cancer at her Wasilla home April 26, 2015. She was 59.

Prior to her passing, Stotts and her 62 singers where preparing to present a concert she called “What a Wonderful World.”

Five of her proteges, including three current singers, will work together to conduct much of the music the singers prepared for that concert.

Since the Alaska Children’s Choir was founded in 1979, thousands of youths, 5 to 18, have participated in the choir’s six levels: Minisingers, Mastersingers, Chambersingers, Jubilate, Touring Choir, and the Camerata.

Stotts didn’t found the choir, but began working for the choir shortly after moving to Southcentral Alaska in 1980. Stotts later purchased the internationally recognized choir, which has brought together approximately 5,000 youth singers over the past 30 years.

The choir is dedicated to excellence in music education and choral singing, offering Alaska children the opportunity to train and perform to some of the highest artistic standards locally, nationally and internationally.

Stotts also founded “Cantora Arctica,” an award-winning women’s choir.

As a result of her work, Stotts has received many awards during her lifetime, including the Woman of Achievement Award (1997), St. Olaf College Distinguished Alumna Award (1997), and the Governor’s Arts Award for Arts Educator (2006).

People are invited to share photos and memories of Stotts on the Facebook page “Remembering Janet Stotts.”

Stotts’ former students also honored her at the Anchorage Concert Chorus Winners’ Recital Saturday at the UAA Recital Hall by dedicating the recital to her memory.

Another remembrance and celebration of her life is planned during the Alaska Women’s Run June 13. Her legion of friends is working to field the largest team in the history of the event. The current record for largest team is 120 members. Signup online at bit.ly/1GfKJBB.

Donations are suggested to “The Alaska Children’s Choir Legacy Fund,” online at bit.ly/1GfKarw, or to the National Association of Teachers of Singing, at bit.ly/1AaB1iy.