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Janet Angier’s life has been full ofdisappointment, near misses, andoutright disaster. But you wouldnever know it to speak with her.When we first meet, the former fitmodel, an extremely youthful 44,looks lovely in a floaty blouse, platformblack patent leather sandalsand jeans. Her home is a neat contemporarytucked in the woods ofWhipporwill--its peace and quietelegance mirrors the ambiance atMusic in Chappaqua on NorthGreeley Avenue, a sparkling, modernspace. Each of four studios at theschool has a beautiful Steinwaygrand piano and dark grey wallsdecorated with framed head-shotsof its students. The studio for therock workshops looks like a recordingstudio, with space enough forfull band practice.Janet has a keen understanding ofwhat kids find “cool,” and hasarranged for her young rock musiciansto perform at clubs in NewYork City such as the Village’sfamous Bitter End, and recently onMarch 20th at a benefit for Haiti atCrash Mansion, an Indie rock clubon the Lower East Side. Loads ofvideos of the amazing young rockerscan be seen on You Tube (search for“Chappaqua Rocks,” and be sure tocheck out Up 4 Grab’s fantastic renditionof Boston’s Peace of Mind atthe Bitter End).On the classical side, teacherMonica Ohuchi’s prodigous pianostudent Angela Sun, an 8th graderat the Robert E. Bell School, won theMusic Teacher’s NationalAssociation State competition inNew York, and went on to 2nd placein the Eastern Regional competition.Angela has even played in CarnegieHall’s Weill Hall.Janet grew up in a house full ofmusicians, was teaching piano lessonsby the age of 14, and seriouslystudying the oboe. She clearly hadmusical talent, but she didn’t inheritit from the family surrounding her—JANET IN CHAPPAQUA“Still Standing” and Better than EverBY MAGGIE PATRICK-STERNINPHOTOS BY DANIELLE DEVITOMichaela, Victoria, Ana, Janet and Mike inside their Chappaqua home.she was adopted. She longed toknow her birth parents, but was otherwisevery happy and well-adjusted.When it came time for college, sheattended the New EnglandConservatory of Music in Boston. As ajunior, she auditioned for a positionin the Taiwan National Symphony inTaipei to find its principal oboist—along shot for a 21-year-old Americancollege student. She won and left theConservatory for a new career inTaiwan with a life-long contract.In her position, Janet performed atthe opening concert of the 2070-seatgold and red Taiwan NationalSymphony concert hall. Her performanceincluded enormous workssuch as Saint-Saëns SymphonyNo. 3, Ravel’s orchestration ofMussorgsky’s Pictures at anExhibition and Beethoven’sSymphony #9. As principal oboist,she felt an enormous responsibilityto practice each piece to perfection.And practice she did, mastering twoor three hours of new music perweek. Twelve-hour practice dayswere not unusual.Janet returned to the U.S. in 1988,and continued to tour throughoutEurope with various orchestras. Butby 1989, Janet’s constant practicingand playing triggered painful tendonitisin her extensor muscle,which runs along the top of the armfrom the elbow to the wrist. Shetook some time off from the oboe,hoping to recover from her tendonitis.She also consulted anotherprincipal oboist who suffered fromthe same condition, and haddevised a special stand for her oboeto rest on while she played.Janet used the stand, but still didnot get the relief she was hoping for.“It was a bit of a slow death,” saysJanet. And a bitter pill to swallow—the career she had spent her lifepreparing for was over.In 1993, Janet rented an apartmentat the basement of 125 King Street,formerly the office of Dr. Roth, nowthe office of Drs. Lipari andMangiamelli. She also founded amusic school, Music in Chappaqua,where she taught piano.Meanwhile, Janet had been diligentlysearching for more informationabout her family of origin. Canadaprotects the rights of birth parentsvery strictly, and it took 11 years toreceive her birth information. Asher oboe career fell apart, the topicMay 2010 Inside Chappaqua 19