Josanne Francis

After beginning her musical education at age 8, Josanne Francis found her voice in the steelpan. Francis was a natural pannist (steelpan musician), and her hard work and musical ability landed her a scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi where she studied percussion and music education. Francis then moved on to Northern Illinois University (NIU) to study steelpan at the graduate level, honing her skills even further. Francis is a highly sought-after pannist, having acted as a guest artist at schools and steelpan festivals around the country. Francis currently serves as the artistic director of the Cultural Academy for Excellence, where she uses the steelpan to bring music education to after-school and weekend programs.

• While at NIU, Francis won the 2013–14 NIU Concerto Competition, as well as the 2014 American Protégé International Concerto Competition, leading to her Carnegie Hall recital—the first in history for a steelpan soloist.
• Francis has performed as a guest artist and clinician at steelpan festivals and schools around the United States, including a stint as a guest clinician at Humboldt State University in California.
• In 2014, Francis was a guest musician on Bravo’s Top Chef.