Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, Wendt began performing as soloist with orchestras at the tender age of 10.  In 1978, she was handpicked to perform as soloist with an Australian youth orchestra in a televised concert commemorating the silver jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.  In the same year, Wendt was accepted at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she studied with legendary pianists Jorge Bolet and Gary Graffman.

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She completed her masters’ degrees in piano and organ performance at Indiana University; she also holds a doctorate in piano performance from the University of Minnesota. Her musical mentors at this time were pianists Enrica Cavallo and Lydia Artimiw. Wendt has been acknowledged with numerous honors and awards, including the McKnight Artist Fellowship, and an Artist Grant from MacPhail Center for Music for musicological research.  In 2023, she won the Culture Prize in the Swedish provinces of Jämtland-Härjedalen.

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Wendt's musical contributions extend beyond the concert halls. She was a pioneer in bringing the music of Clara Schumann to audiences in the United States. As a national public radio host and producer, she crafted the acclaimed three-part docudrama, Out of the Shadows: The Story of Clara Schumann, earning her the esteemed Gracie Allen Award. She continued her exploration of Clara Schumann’s extraordinary life by writing and performing a one-woman show, Clara’s Visitor, which captivated audiences and critics across continents. Her more recent play, According to Nadia, based on Nadia Boulanger’s exceptional life and work, continues Wendt’s quest to bring musical luminaries to life, and stands as a testament to her multifaceted artistry.