Biography
Born and raised in a small sugar cane farming community in Queensland, Australia Joanne learned the ropes of performing at a very young age watching her Dad and his band playing weekend gigs. Through local theatre groups she began challenging her musical talent as she began being rewarded bigger roles.
After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business she was offered the lead female role in a Broadway type musical called “Roads” put on by a group called Up With People. Here she traveled extensively for the next 18 months throughout the U.S, Canada and Europe putting on over 170 shows in 108 cities. Joanne says of her experience “It was the experience of a lifetime. Meeting and performing for so many people and sharing a lifetime of memories in each city we stayed.”
It was during this year that she met a fellow cast-mate that would later become her husband…who happened to be Canadian! They eventually married and moved back to Canada and made Edmonton their home.
Since moving to Edmonton and more recently to Leduc, Alberta, Joanne has been very busy. After competing and winning the Northlands sponsored event “Country Vocal Spotlight” she earned a spot in the Global Rising Star program that pushed her further into the spotlight. Being as busy as she was she decided to quit her day-job and focus on music and her hard work has paid off. She was awarded both Female Entertainer and Female Vocalist of the year awards in 2006 at the North American Country Music International competition in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Deciding to further her knowledge of the music industry she recently earned a Music Business certificate from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.
Over the past few years Joanne has had the opportunity to perform on some of the best stages in Alberta and along side some of the very best artists in Canadian Country Music including, Brad Johner, Shane Yellowbird, Patricia Conroy, Eli Barsi, Kenny Hess, Gary Fjellgaard and many more...
Fresh out of the recording studio finishing up her first two radio ready singles she is on her way to completing her first independent album, a dream she has dreamt for many years. Joanne says of her love for music “It has its ups and downs like all things in life. Music is enjoyed by nearly every single person and I love every opportunity I have to get on stage and share part of myself with
them.”
Her powerful vocals portray her passion for country music and bring to the surface the emotion in each song. This ability to connect with the audience makes each performance a special one.
For more on Joanne & upcoming performance dates go to:
www.joannejanzen.com/tour.html
www.myspace.com/joannejanzen