About Us
Staff
Ajay Heble, Artistic Director
Ajay Heble is the festival's founding and current artistic director. He is a jazz piano player, listener and author. He teaches English at the University of Guelph, and is also director of a multi-university social research project entitled Improvisation, Community, and Social Practice.
Derek Andrews, Executive Director
Also functioning as Development Director, Derek is a veteran music organizer working in Canada's music community developing the profile of jazz, blues, folk and world music. He served as interim Executive Director in 2007.
Julie Hastings, Director of Operations
Julie has been involved with the Guelph Jazz Festival since 1995 when she started out as a volunteer and subsequently became a staff member working on many aspects of the Festival. She has immensely enjoyed her experiences and associations generated during that time and is deeply appreciative that her horizons have expanded widely.
Thomas Silvani, Administrative Coordinator
Thomas is a guitarist/composer set to begin his Masters in Composition at York University in September '08. After spending the month of May at the Jazz and Creative Music Workshop in Banff, Thomas is excited to be back at the Festival preparing for an amazing lineup of music.
Mary Rankin, Volunteer Coordinator
This is Mary's third season with the Festival, having worked as Administrative Assistant in 2005 and Volunteer Coordinator in 2006. She's a big fan of the music and an even bigger fan of the wonderful people who lend their time and energy to this event every year.
Ontario Premier's Award for Excellence in the Arts
The Guelph Jazz Festival was one of five finalists in the 2008 Premier's Awards for Excellence in the Arts, in the arts organization category. View our short nomination video with president Michelle Lobkowicz by clicking the button below.
