Fredric & Janice Youra

Janice Youra had a love for piano at an early age. She had piano lessons as a child and played for school and church functions as well as on the radio. She taught piano in Oshkosh for many years during the 1960’s and 1970’s. After a move to Alaska, she continued teaching piano. She used her skills as a community chorus accompanist, church musician, ballet class accompanist, public school music teacher, university instrumental and vocal accompanist, and soloist.

Janice graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She took additional music studies courses at the University of Alaska – Anchorage and Pacific Lutheran University. She served on the state board of Wisconsin Music Teachers Association for 8 years.

Fredric “Fritz” Youra (1934-2021) was a Lutheran minister. He was pastor of several churches in Wisconsin, Alaska and Oregon, a marriage and family counselor, and a commercial fisherman in Prince William Sound, Alaska. He studied at Dana College in Nebraska, where he met his wife, Janice, in 1954. Fritz has always been encouraging and supportive of Janice’s musical endeavors.

Fritz and Janice established the Fredric & Janice Youra Piano Performance Scholarship in 2010 to provide financial assistance to college students pursuing a career in piano performance.