“It feels like a real payoff for all of the work I’ve put into my music over the years,” says Will Bonness [BMus(Perf)/09] of his new Juno Award. “It feels amazing to be recognized and to represent Manitoba at the Junos!”

The Desautels Faculty of Music Associate Professor and jazz pianist was awarded the trophy for Jazz Album of the Year (Solo) for his latest release ‘Change of Plans’ at the annual Juno Awards gala this past weekend.

Bonness was up against four other talented Canadian jazz musicians, including his friend and Desautels Faculty of Music colleague Jon Gordon. The two of them were even featured as guest performers on each other’s albums – Gordon played saxophone on ‘Change of Plans,’ while Bonness played piano on Gordon’s Juno-nominated album ‘Stranger Than Fiction.’