Penny Ballantyne
Penny Ballantyne, (nee Aumond), Sept. 1971, Yellowknife, NT (photo © NNSL.com)
Penny Ballanytne (nee Aumond) was born in Churchill, MB and grew up in Iqaluit, NU.
Her family moved to Fort Smith, NT where she began her conservatory piano studies.
When her family relocated to Yellowknife, Penny got her pop music fix from the radio, the 45s at Wally’s drug store and the Columbia Record Club.
At 13 years old, she auditioned for the local rock band, “The Stained Glass Illusion”.
Along with Gary Tees, John Tees and Tony Gilchrest, the band played for school dances and community events.
Later on Penny joined school teachers Wilf Schidlowsky and Alex Czarnecki in the band “Easy Street” playing weekends in the local bars.
She left both bands in 1971 to concentrate on her high school and conservatory piano studies.
After she graduated, Penny moved to the Yukon but returned to Yellowknife to perform with Yukon singer/songwriter Kathy Cross at the first Folk on the Rocks music festival in 1980.
with 'Stained Glass Illusion'. L-R: John Tees, Penny Ballantyne (nee Aumond), Gary Tees, Tony Gilchrest. July, 1970, Yellowknife, NT. (photo © NNSL.com)
'Stained Glass Illusion' practice at Tony's. L-R Gary Tees, Penny Ballantyne (nee Aumond), John Tees, Tony Gilchrest. June, 1970, Yellowknife, NT. (Photo courtesy Gary Tees)
