OUR TEAM

Cosmopolitan doesn’t even begin to describe the formidable and talented Juliet Dunn. Juliet’s lineage is Jamaican/English being born in the UK before emigrating with her family to Vancouver, BC Canada. As a young woman she returned to Europe and settled in Paris, France.

It was here that she put out her first CD single and was the lead in the French film, "L’Amerloque" (The Yankee). After 13 years in France, Juliet returned to Canada and performed in for film and television productions as well as in 2 seasons with the renowned Shaw Festival Theatre. After having relocated to Ontario, Juliet formed her own jazz band (Juliet Dunn Quartet) and started to perform around the Niagara Region. Later, with her, now late husband, and musical partner Peter Shea, Juliet performed as a lead jazz vocalist all over the world in both French and English.

Today, Juliet is very active in the Niagara region and has been running the Twilight Jazz Series in Niagara for 12 years bringing together both local and international jazz musicians. The series is now under the umbrella of the TD Niagara Jazz Festival. Juliet also performs regularly in festivals and at various venues. Juliet was a radio host of ‘SUNRISE’ on JAZZ.FM91.1 for 3 years before deciding to focus her energy on the TD Niagara Jazz Festival full-time which she co-created with her late husband Peter Shea.

Juliet and Peter have been proud to bring jazz, blues, and world music to the Niagara Region featuring preeminent Canadian and internationally acclaimed jazz musicians via concerts, educational initiatives, activities, and free events for the past 9 years, and Juliet continues to devote her time to this worthy cause.

Juliet Dunn works tirelessly to keep jazz alive and it is exciting to anticipate where her energy, efforts, and talents will take her in the future. Without a doubt, Juliet Dunn is vital to the Jazz scene of Niagara and beyond.

Born and raised into an Irish/Icelandic family Peter Shea began his lifelong love affair with music surrounded by a family of musicians and music lovers. In 1995 Peter graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in Jazz Performance and Composition.

Peter Shea’s extensive resume includes performing on keyboards for the hit Toronto Second City dinner theatre show “Tony and Tina’s Wedding”; touring across Canada with comedian Sean Cullen; performing for a month at the world famous Edinburgh Comedy Festival on both keyboards and drums, including several live performances on BBC Television and Radio; performing on keyboard with the Jersey Boys in Toronto; a cross-Canada tour with the famous Montreal “Just for Laughs” Road Show including the Pantages and Massy Hall theatres.

He has also had the unique privilege of performing with many great Canadian jazz artists including Phil Dwyer, Pat LaBarbera, Graham Lear, Heather Bambrick, Mike Malone, Kevin Turcotte, June Garber, Davide Direnzo, Mike Daley (Jeff Healey Band), Duncan Hopkins, Gord Sheard and more.

Along with his wife and musical partner, Juliet Dunn, Peter Shea has performed in over forty countries as a bandleader, vocalist and keyboard/piano player.

Currently, Peter and his wife Juliet run the Twilight Jazz Series in Niagara and the duo also created and run the TD Niagara Jazz Festival.(awarded ‘Best New Festival’ in Ontario in 2017) and in its 4th year. With his long musical lineage, Peter Shea is considered one of Niagara’s eminent jazz pianist, percussionist, vocalist, composer and arranger.

Tricia’s love of music, people and her strong interest in arts and entertainment launched a career that began shortly after moving from Niagara to Toronto. Starting at top artist management companies in the music industry and learning directly from pioneering and legendary leaders, she developed dexterity and resilience in ever-changing and dynamic professional environments.

Tricia won the ‘Unsung Hero Award’ from the students at Harris Institute after her nearly 5-year tenure as their registrar and academic advisor. As an alumnus herself, she experienced profound joy making a difference in the lives of emerging industry professionals and future leaders.

Tricia is no stranger to the Jazz Festival having joined in 2015 as a Niagara College event management intern and worked as Artist Liaison and Administration Assistant. Shortly after she rejoined the team as Sponsorship Coordinator.

Picture and Bio coming soon

Lesley Mitchell-Clarke and LMC Media are familiar names in the realm of media relations, promotion and production of musical and theatrical events, as well as arts journalism.  For the past twenty-five years she has been based in New York City and Toronto, specializing in jazz specific music publicity.   Lesley was an account executive with the New York City public relations firm, Third Floor Media and during her tenure there (and also with LMC Media), she represented the artists signed with many major recording labels including Concord Records, Atlantic Records, Sharp-Nine, GRP, Koch, Brownstone, DRG, RCA Victor/BMG, Nonesuch Records, Telarc, Columbia, and for several years, most of Warner Bros. jazz, covering both international CD promotions, tours and “live” performances.

A few of the major jazz artists with whom she has worked directly include Marian McPartland, Joshua Redman, Janis Siegel (of The Manhattan Transfer), Blossom Dearie, Fred Hersch, Larry Goldings, Brad Mehldau, Wallace Roney, Jeanie Bryson, Terence Blanchard, Kevin Mahogany, Cyrus Chestnut, Helen Merrill, the late Susannah McCorkle, Jackie & Roy, Blossom Dearie, Winard Harper, Giacomo Gates, John Alcorn,  Emilie-Claire Barlow, Dave Young, Lenny Solomon, Bill Mays, Roger Kellaway, Oliver Jones and the late multi-Grammy nominee Mark Murphy.

Favorite events for whom Lesley has acted as Media Director include The Distillery Jazz Festival, The Art of Jazz Festival, The Markham International Jazz Festival, The New York and Toronto JVC Jazz Festivals, The Playboy Jazz Festival and numerous events in conjunction with John Schreiber’s Office (JVC/Festival Productions).

Mary was born and raised in Toronto and has lived in Montreal and Plymouth, England as well. She moved to St. Catharines 32 years ago to raise her family of 2 girls. She now has six grandchildren! Her 27 year career at Bell Canada wound down in an early retirement opportunity which brought Mary into the hospitality and retail businesses for over 15 years. She is always looking for volunteer opportunities throughout Niagara to enrich her life and the community. Mary belongs to several organizations including; Bell Canada retirees (who do a lot for the Henley Rowing Association), Rotary Club in NOTL, Grape and Wine Festival and she has been an active volunteer for The Shaw Guild for 17 years. Her love of music and dance keep her busy, and she teaches aqua fit twice a week! Mary also belongs to the  Niagara Peninsula Miata club so if you’d like a ride – Zoom, zoom! She loves to travel and has a lot of places on her bucket list yet to see! So, her life is full with lots of variety!

Mary started volunteering with the TD Niagara Jazz Festival in March 2017 and in 2018 took on the roll of Volunteer Administrator. Looking forward to another great year of Jazz!

Carm’s parents were amazing music lovers & enthusiasts, especially jazz and big band era of the 40’s. Music was so much a part of her childhood growing up.  Records or radio constantly filling their home with rhythm and song. She watched her parents dancing together… they were excellent ball room dancers.  Her father (Charles) played drums with a dance band. His nickname was CHAZZ 🙂

She enjoyed hearing musicians practice at their house, as she was too young to attend their ‘gigs’. Hearing a good beat she would tap her feet, bang on a table…or just jump up and dance with her mom. Her Dad’s favourites to name a few; Duke Ellington, Moe Koffman , Dizzy Gillespie, Peter Appleyard, Oscar Peterson, Stephan Grapelli and so many more that I can’t recall. The TD Niagara Jazz festival has displayed true homage and amazing tributes to many of these jazz greats!  My children also appreciate live music, and especially jazz of course.  Both display expressions of style & true sense of rhythm …that would make their grandfather proud.

Music, rhythm and lively beats fill our hearts, colour our world and lift the soul. Her volunteer work with the TD Niagara Jazz Festival helps support & build the local music community.  She would like to thank Peter and Juliet for following their dream and by bringing us a bright and shining music festival. The TD NJF showcases beauty, talent and dedication of so many musical artists.

Bio coming soon...

Coming Soon

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Being an entrepreneur, Yugbodh (YB) comes with over 10 years experience in marketing communications, events and digital productions. Currently, he is pursuing MBA at Brock University. For this years festival, he is involved in coordinating with vendors and supervising all the events for the festival. He is a soccer enthusiast and a spirited dog-lover. For him, music is an escape and is always evolving!

Barbara Worthy is an independent creative arts producer. For two decades she produced the Bell Canada Shaw Festival Series and the Bank of Montreal Stratford Festival Series for CBC Radio, and was the writer/producer for the award-winning international series Legends and Myths of Canada’s First Nations for CBC Radio’s Ideas She has produced numerous dramas, documentaries and variety programs for CBC, BBC, ABC, RNZ, and international broadcasters worldwide.  Her work in theatre includes a 20-year association with the Shaw Festival, (acting, writing, directing and founding mentor for the Shaw Theatre School). In the Niagara region, Barbara acts as a facilitator, emcee for local events, and as creative liaison for many local arts groups and organizations. She is also an instructor at both Niagara College and Brock University. She is currently producing a series of multimedia videos interpreting Canadian history.

Since retiring from over 30 years of teaching, Joan King has dedicated her retirement to bringing some of the most important elements of education to the community. Through her work with Big Brothers Big Sisters, she has acted as a mentor in the lives of children benefiting from a consistent positive role model to help develop social skills and build a foundation and love for learning.

Joan has also spent the last 11 years growing the participation base for the NOTL Terry Fox Run. Not only has the run become a yearly event that’s brought the community together, it’s promoted a healthy physical outlet and raised over a quarter-million dollars towards cancer research. In addition, Joan has offered her time to the TD Niagara Jazz Festival, which brings music and culture to the area and inspires a love of the arts across generations.

Anyone who knows Joan can attest to her contagious enthusiasm to enrich the lives of not only the children but everyone around her.

My name is Shelley Lewis, I have been retired for 3 years after a long career in healthcare. I have many interests such as travel, fitness and the arts. Since retiring I like to volunteer my time with the Bruce Trail Hiking club, The Niagara Running Club and (when times were different) Explore Buffalo. I have been involved with the Niagara Jazz for 5 years in different volunteer capacities and as a patron. I love live music of all genres.

Bio coming soon...

Bonjour/Hello. Francine was born in Dorion, Québec and moved to the beautiful Niagara Region in St. Catharines in 1976. She completed her bilingual studies and in 1983 was hired by Employment and Immigration in funding grants for private companies and non for profit organizations to create employment and train individuals. She truly understands the nature of festivals and tourism as she granted many of these projects both at the federal government level and in her last employment position with the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Since the 1980’s she has volunteered on many boards of directors and in various positions with both French and English organizations (over 10 years with the Niagara Wine Festival). Married to a jazz musician, she is passionate about music and dancing. Now retired, she continues to volunteer for French events and the TD Niagara Jazz Festival, if she’s not away camping or at other music festivals and wine events. Santé!

Monique Idzenga was born and raised in Niagara. With her Father being a musician, her love of music started at an early age. Kitchen parties and all genres of music were welcomed in their home.

With her children now grown, and being semi-retired, she has had more time to enjoy listening and dancing to local bands and supporting the many festivals in the region. Volunteering was a great next step in meeting like minded people and being able to give back to our community.

Bio coming soon...

Bio coming soon...

Mike Odendahl, the founder of MOVINPICS, has a background as a musician, DJ, Videographer and Editor. As a performer and content creator, he has a creative eye for capturing the story. Over the years he has brought his talents to hundreds of weddings and events in some of the best venues of Niagara region.

Visit Mike's website: www.movinpics.ca

Biography coming soon

Visit Dan's website: danbrownphotographer.com

I have been photographing seriously since 2001 concentrating on nature and street photography. In 2012 I started my jazz  photography career taking pictures of the group Red Hot Ramble. When I retired in 2013 I started to volunteer at JAZZ.FM91 and shortly after I joined I started doing photography for them.

I have photographed for the Markham, Toronto, and Kensington Market festivals. My favourite Festival was the Niagara Jazz Festival where I got to meet such wonderful people who volunteered at the festival. I photographed two seasons of the festival. some shows at the cafe, the World Music show, and a big band show.  I can't say enough about Juliet and Peter who took me in with such warm hospitality.  They made me feel right at home and part of the festival family.

COVID put a stop to my jazz career so I have concentrated on nature, specifically birds. My images can be seen on Facebook under my name (Bill Beard).