Young Janice was encouraged by her family to persue her interests in classical music at an early age. She assumed the surname of her first husband conductor Thomas DeGaetani and kept the name after marriage to oboist James West. Studied at the Juillard School in NYC with Surgius Kagan and specialized in modern vocal compositions with The Contemporary Chamber Ensemble supplimenting her work with various day jobs. She studied contemporary works, mastering new vocal works- many in foreign languages also became an accomplished lieder artist.

DeGaetani taught at The Eastman School of Music. She died in 1989 of leukemia.