A former Director of Bands for close to four decades at Bloomington High School North in Indiana, Janis Stockhouse, has died.
Stockhouse’s death occurred on Monday, December 23, 2024, according to a post from a family member announcing her passing.
“We lost my Aunt Janis unexpectedly the night before Christmas Eve, and it’s still hard to believe,” Rachel Miller wrote. “To so many, she was a legend in the music world, but to me, she was simply Aunt Janis—the one who let us ride in her car on backroads in Wisconsin sitting on top of the sunroof, the one who never missed sending a birthday or holiday card, and the one whose home was always open. She believed in everyone and cheered for everything.”
The family added final funeral rites are yet to be finalized.
Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, Stockhouse’s alma mater, also had a message of tribute.
“Jacobs School of Music joins with many in our community to mourn the passing and celebrate the life of alumna Janis Stockhouse,” they said in a post.
Janis got her Bachelor in Music Education (BME) in 1977 and her Masters in Music degree at Indiana State University.
She served as Director of Bands at Bloomington High School North for 38 years before her retirement in 2019. Previously, she was North Vermillion Jr-Sr High School Band and Choral Director for 4 years.
Stockhouse received numerous accolades for her work over the years. She was named Outstanding Music Educator by IMEA and Educator of the Year by Bloomington Art Council, among others.