More about me

My passion for linguistics was borne out of my love of music. My parents are both musicians; my father is an instrumentalist and my mother a vocalist. From a young age, my father shared his love for the harmonica and it soon became an instrument that I hold dear to this day. Dr. George Miklas promotes the use of the harmonica in public schools, especially in making instrumental music classrooms inclusive to students with physical disabilities (Miklas, 2022). My father and I have been performing together since I was 4 years old, professionally since 2010. I also play the flute, piccolo, oboe, and piano.

Miklas, G.W. (2022). Harmonica Pedagogy for the Full Inclusion Instrumental Music Classroom, Expanding Opportunities for Students with Disabilities. [Doctoral thesis, Liberty University]. Doctoral Dissertations and Projects.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/3671

Some of my musical accomplishments are:

2023- Promoted to be the chair of SPAH’s William Rosebush Youth Committee

2018- Accepted to be a member of SPAH’s William Rosebush Youth Committee as scholar mentor and committee secretary

2016- Adjudicator and Performer at the 2016 Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival, Hsinchu City, Taiwan

2014- Inducted into the National Traditional Country Music Association Old Time Music Hall of Fame as “2014 Rising Legend,” LeMars, Iowa

2013- Performance Scholarship Recipient at the behest of Hohner Inc. to attend the 2013 World Harmonica Festival, Trossingen, Germany

2013- Proclamation presented by the town mayor declaring September 14th, 2013 as “Janalyn Miklas Day” in the borough of Mercer, Pennsylvania

2012- William Rosebush Youth Scholarship to attend the international harmonica convention hosted by the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica (SPAH), Dallas, Texas

More about our music endeavors can be found here.

My cat, Marvin

I was fortunate enough to rescue and adopt my furry friend, Marvin, in 2020. His presence in my life has brought joy and companionship, especially while navigating isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He often “helps” me with my studies by chasing the cursor on my computer screen and making sure that I take frequent study breaks.

With Marvin around, I am always guaranteed to smile because he is a total goofball!