Janet Watkins came to Mahomet-Seymour in 1981 as the head of the 5-12 Choral Program. She served in the position for 23 years before retiring in 2004. Under her tutelage, the program went from one small choir of 30, to four choirs totaling over 200 singers. This was nearly 25% of the total school enrollment at the time.

Janet developed programs that featured an auditioned Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, Treble 2 and Treble 1 Choirs, and the highly regarded Madrigal Singers. During her time at MSHS, she also directed show choirs and several musicals.

Under Janet, the Choral Program became well known in the State of Illinois and throughout the country. The choirs were often selected to perform at the State Conventions of both the Illinois Music Educators Convention and the American Choral Directors Conventions. Her choir represented Illinois at the D-Day 50-year Normandy Liberation Bicentennial Celebration in Washington D.C. In 1997 and 2001, the MSHS Choirs performed in 10-day choir tours of Austria and Germany

In 1993, the M-S choirs were selected by Delta Records as one of the 12 choirs throughout the Midwest to make a Christmas Recording. The Mahomet-Seymour recording was selected as Most Outstanding Recording. In 1999, the M-S Choirs were selected to record a CD as part of a book writing project entitled, “Best High School Choirs”, by Lou Everett of Delta Records. The book highlighted twelve music programs in a six-state area which have shown outstanding success in musicianship and excellence.

Janet served many years on the Board of Directors of the Illinois American Choral Directors Association. She was awarded the organization’s highest award, The Harold Decker Award of Excellence, in 2002. Janet also served many years as the District Chairperson for the Illinois Music Educators Association.

Other noteworthy awards and recognitions Janet has earned over her career include the first- ever recipient of Illinois State University’s Outstanding Alumni for ISU Department of Fine Arts in 2000, Illinois Outstanding Educator in 1987 and Chamber of Commerce Mahomet Citizen of the Year in 1999 along with her husband Dick, M-S Director of Bands. Janet still resides in the Mahomet area. Her legacy and love of music and service will live on through her students for many years to come.