Guest Entertainer: Friday, July 19, 2019
Location: Fairmont - Imperial Room
Topic: A Musical Taste of the Caribbean
-Let the Music Flow
Host; Dauna Jones Simmonds
Wendy Jones is the quintessential ambassador of the Steel Pan. She has received numerous awards for her exceptional skills as a pannist as her work in pan is being recognized Internationally.
She deserves the highest praise for using the Steel Pan as a Cultural tool to draw families into the Steel Pan Fraternity: to Inspire Youth, to Ignite Leadership Skills and to affect social change. She is a co-founder and band leader of the award winning steelband, Pan Fantasy Steel Orchestra which is Celebrating it 32nd Anniversary.
Wendy‘s pan journey started in 1977 with Afro Pan Steelband. She carries the Title “Queen of the Bass” and is the recipient of:
Harry Jerome Award 2015
Awarded 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women 2018
Woman on the Bass award 1992
Pan Arts Network Woman in Pan Award 2010
Toronto Catholic District School Board Ethnic and Diversity Award 2010
Toronto Catholic District School Board Festival of The Arts Award 2015
Dance Caribe Cultural Participation Award 2014, 2015.
Consulate General of Trinidad and Tobago Outstanding Contribution Award 2015
Honourary Mention in Published Book 1962-2012 “Trinidad & Tobago in Canada “
Cultural Recognition Award ( for 20 years of service) High Commission from The Republic of Trinidad & Tobago 2017.
Present Executive Director, and founding member Of Pan Arts Network 22 years.
Harry Jerome Award 2015
Awarded 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women 2018
Woman on the Bass award 1992
Pan Arts Network Woman in Pan Award 2010
Toronto Catholic District School Board Ethnic and Diversity Award 2010
Toronto Catholic District School Board Festival of The Arts Award 2015
Dance Caribe Cultural Participation Award 2014, 2015.
Consulate General of Trinidad and Tobago Outstanding Contribution Award 2015
Honourary Mention in Published Book 1962-2012 “Trinidad & Tobago in Canada “
Cultural Recognition Award ( for 20 years of service) High Commission from The Republic of Trinidad & Tobago 2017.
Present Executive Director, and founding member Of Pan Arts Network 22 years.
Directed under Pan Arts Network New Generation Fort York Steelpan Festival for 7 years.
Co-Directed under Pan Arts Network Canada 150 with 150 Steelpan players and musicians 2017.
Directed N.Y.I.C.Y.G. Pan Fantasy Steel Orchestra to compete in New York Panorama several times.
Directed Pan Fantasy Steel Orchestra to Trinidad & Tobago International Panorama in 2015
Co-Directed under Pan Arts Network Canada 150 with 150 Steelpan players and musicians 2017.
Directed N.Y.I.C.Y.G. Pan Fantasy Steel Orchestra to compete in New York Panorama several times.
Directed Pan Fantasy Steel Orchestra to Trinidad & Tobago International Panorama in 2015
As a founding member of the North York Inter-Community Youth Group, she has organized Concerts, Fashion Shows and numerous Recreational Activities in the Jane and Finch area and other communities. These efforts proved to be an early training ground for some of Canada’s great musical artists, and positioned Wendy as a mentor and master pannist to over 600 children and more across the Greater Toronto Area. Wendy continues to lead by example and she is always open to new endeavors that will strengthen her leadership attributes especially in building up the steelpan community and advance young people. She Gives God the Highest Praise.