Joy Lapps

Internationally lauded artist and composer Joy Lapps activates spaces for community building and creative expression. The award-winning instrumentalist of Antiguan and Barbudan descent treats the steelpan as a tool for engagement, anchoring her artistry in a profound, community-centered musical tradition. She aims to amplify women’s contributions in every facet of her work, giving nuanced attention to women of the steelband movement. 

As a leader, Joy has appeared at music festivals and events across Canada, the United States and the Caribbean including Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Victoria, Edmonton, Halifax Jazz Festivals, Miami’s Ground Up Fest, Mundial and Folk Alliance.

At her core, Joy connects to music as participatory.  When she isn’t creating or performing she works with educators to creatively engage students and meet curriculum goals through alternate and inclusive pathways. Joy supports arts educators and community organizations in creating steelpan programs and facilitates team building across multiple sectors through steelpan.