Mary Genis wins the 2026 Pride of Reading Music Legacy Award in recognition of decades spent celebrating Caribbean music and heritage.
As founder of CultureMix Arts and RASPO, Mary has helped make a lasting contribution to Reading’s cultural life. Under her leadership, RASPO has grown from a local initiative into a nationally recognised group, performing every year at Notting Hill Carnival.
Through workshops and performances in schools and communities, Mary has inspired generations of young people to explore their heritage, build confidence and discover a love of music.
Her nominator told us: “Mary’s legacy is visible in the thousands of people she has inspired, the musicians she has nurtured, the communities she has connected, and the cultural traditions she has helped preserve and celebrate.”
On receiving the Award Mary thanked her nominator and said: “I feel humbled, honoured, surprised and delighted all at the same time.”
She later added: “This award is dedicated to my parents who came to Britain from Trinidad in the 1950’s as part of the Windrush Generation.
My father arrived first, setting up a home in North London for my pregnant mother who joined him a few weeks later. They left behind my two older sisters, aged eight and one, in the care of our grandparents. Just weeks after arriving my mother gave birth to me. It took two years to save enough to bring my sister Hermine and I was six when I was first united with my seven year old sister Margaret.
I am so proud to be a second generation Windrush descendant, inspired by the journey of my parents to adopt the musical culture of steel band from Trinidad and Tobago. I hope my achievements and this award honours the sacrifices my parents made to give me an education and a better life.
Top image L-R: Maiya Harrison-Genis, Mary Genis and Lee Gardner of Pride of Reading Music Legacy Award sponsor Vale and West.
