Janet E. Bromley (1925-2016) was considered by many to be Huntington’s “Matriarch of Music.” She was born and raised in Huntington and graduated from Marshall College Laboratory School in 1943, then attended Oberlin College, graduating in 1947 with degrees in both Music Performance and Music Education.
After graduation, she taught at Berea College before returning to Huntington. There she met and married Norman Paul Bromley in 1949. Together, they had four sons from 1950 to 1956.
For more than 50 years, Bromley played her violin and viola for thousands in and around Huntington. She performed in many varied venues, from formal concerts with the Huntington Symphony Orchestra, Huntington Chamber Orchestra, Marshall University Symphony Orchestra and the Huntington Pops Orchestra to many less formal events – recitals, weddings, receptions, dinners, private performances, pit orchestras and even the occasional car dealership opening.
She and her friends often performed as the Baroque Chamber Ensemble, and together they shared their virtuosity and love of music and acted as ambassadors of fine music to the Huntington community. By coordinating with Cabell County Schools, music performance ensembles, and state and local funding agencies, thousands of school children were exposed to the joy of musical performances through the EFFORT program that Bromley established and led. With the collaboration of many, she created the On Line, In Rhythm program at the Huntington Museum of Art to introduce the arts – music, dance and visual – to local school children.
