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About
Joy's Journey
JOY PATRICIA KNIGHT, GCM, BFA (HONS), MA, was born in Barbados on 28th November 1964 to Rev. Whitfield DaCosta Knight and Sheila Doreen Knight and received her secondary education at Combermere School, Waterford, Barbados where she was one of the first girls to enter that school from first form in 1976. Ms. Knight is a string specialist and an ethnomusicologist, having studied violin performance at York University in Toronto, Canada, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree First Class Honors, then a Master of Arts degree specializing in ethnomusicology.
On her return to Barbados, she has directed and performed with several musical ensembles including pan revolution, Barbados String Quartet, Barbados Symphonia and Barbados Chamber Orchestra as first violinist. She has taught music at many of the secondary schools throughout Barbados including Springer Memorial, The Lodge School, Ellerslie, Combermere, and The Coleridge and Parry School where she was the Head of the Fine Arts Department and director of the award-winning school band since 1995. She has led the Coleridge and Parry School Band through successful NIFCA performances winning the school band of the year award for five consecutive years, the James Millington award for excellence, and the Arden Clarke Foundation Award for the best Gold Medal at NICFA. She has taken the band on tour to St. Vincent, St. Lucia and Guadeloupe. As the violin tutor at Combermere School since 1996, she has taught many students from beginning stages through to grade 8 and was the musical director and conductor of the Colours of Combermere concerts.
The Primary school string programme was initiated by Joy Knight. As founder, coordinator and tutor of the programme, she has introduced over 2000 students to violin, viola and ‘cello and more recently winds and brass. Many of these students have excelled and became members of the Barbados National Youth Symphony Orchestra. Her aim is to increase discipline, time management, memory, teamwork, and many other qualities which will enhance their studies at school as well as their personal development as well as further develop the Barbados National Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Barbados Junior Orchestra and a national adult orchestra. As director of the Barbados National Youth Symphony Orchestra, Ms Knight has initiated annual summer music workshops—one for string players and one for the Barbados National Youth Symphony Orchestra Members.
Ms. Knight has judged several competitions including the Barbados Song Contest, Barbados Queen of Song, NIFCA, the Anglican Church song contests, the Junior Calypso Monarch Competition and the Pic O De Crop finals and semifinals.
Her awards include a Community Service Award for distinguished and meritorious service to school and community, A Pride of Barbados Award 2010, and an award presented by the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Culture in recognition of her contribution to curriculum development, and most recently she has been presented with a Cornerstone award at the 2013 Barbados Music Awards for her contribution to music in Barbados and a Rotary award for her contribution to music in Barbados.
Ms. Joy Knight is presently the director of The Barbados National Youth Symphony Orchestra and has been since 2002. she is the director of JKM academy formerly known as JAL Music. She has served in the ministry of education as Education Officer responsible for Music, is a part-time tutor at the Barbados Community College and a full-time Tutor at Erdiston Teachers’ Training College.
Ms Joy Knight is the proud mother of one child, Tiffani Lynch.
The Accolade of GOLD CROWN OF MERIT was conferred in recognition for her contribution to music and music education.