Published by Communications and Public Affairs 519 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338

Campus Bulletin

July 31, 2007

Guelph Jazz Festival Seeks Volunteers

Organizers of the Guelph Jazz Festival are looking for volunteers to help with the 14th annual jazz festival and colloquium, which will be held Sept. 5 to 9 in venues around the City of Guelph and at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre (MSAC).

The festival was started in 1994 by U of G English professor Ajay Heble. Over the years, it has evolved into a world-class venue for jazz performance and education. It has been hailed as “one of the most visionary” musical events in Canada by the Globe and Mail and received the prestigious Lieutenant-Governor's Award for the Arts.

The schools of Fine Art and Music, Languages and Literatures, and English and Theatre Studies, as well as MSAC, the Central Student Association and various other U of G departments, are among the festival's sponsors.

The theme of this year’s event, which features an international lineup of performers, is “People Get Ready: The Future of Jazz Is Now!" In addition, the Guelph Jazz Festival is the only such festival in Canada that offers an educational colloquium (with free workshops, lectures and panel discussions) as part of its regular schedule of events.

Festival organizers rely on volunteers to help with various tasks, including hospitality services, box office and merchandise sales, beverage sales and service, and festival promotion/materials distribution.

Volunteers receive a complimentary ticket to a festival event (for six hours of service), as well as a T-shirt and an invitation to a volunteer appreciation party.

For information on how to get involved, contact volunteer co-ordinator Chris Cameron at 519-763-4952 or volunteer@guelphjazzfestival.com.