Janet Cook Kaizer

Janet Cook grew up in a very musical family.  Her parents were musicians, playing in a band at the Mackinaw Legion Hall when Janet and her brother Randy were small children.  Janet's grandmother, Beulah Cook, was instrumental in encouraging her to learn the piano, and at a very young age, it was determined that Janet had perfect pitch.  In fact, she was tested at age four at the University of Illinois, and it was confirmed that she had the rare skill.

She continued to work on her piano skills, and her father, Richard, purchased pedal extenders so she could reach them at a young age.

Janet attended Washington Community High School and excelled in all aspects, especially the music program.  She was crowned Homecoming Queen in 1961.

Cook attended the University of Illinois on a music scholarship and graduated with her bachelor's degree in 1966.  She then began teaching chorus at Dee-Mack High School.  

Not long after that, she was chosen to replace Frances Whittaker as choral director at Washington Community High School, starting in the 1968-69 school year.

Janet, who was Janet Drier then, brought many new features to the choral program, including madrigals, a show choir, and concert recordings.

Janet left Washington after three years and was replaced by Betty Zook.  In 1974, she married Ed Kaizer, head of the piano department at Bradley University, and Ed and Janet worked in that department for many years.  They also performed many recitals together throughout Central Illinois and concerts worldwide.  In 1984 and 1985, she was crowned World Champion Old-Time Piano Player.  She also was a dedicated church organist, serving in that role for  St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Washington from 1960-1973, Salem Lutheran Church in Peoria from 1975-1979, and The First United Methodist Church in Peoria from 1979-2014.

The Ed and Janet Kaizer Quintet continued to perform at events until at least 2016. Janet passed away on October 28, 2018, and Ed passed away in 2021.