Founders’ Story
Juliet Dunn and Peter Shea (1972–2022) were Niagara-based jazz musicians who shared a passion for music, community, and life. The duo met in Niagara in 2006 and quickly formed both a musical and personal partnership that would shape the region’s jazz landscape for years to come.
Peter was an accomplished jazz drummer, pianist, vocalist, educator, and producer. Juliet came to jazz later in life after building a diverse career in theatre, film and television, voice work, and the pop music industry. After spending thirteen years in Paris, France, Juliet moved to Niagara to perform as an actress with the Shaw Festival for two seasons and has proudly called Niagara home ever since.
Beginning in 2007, Juliet and Peter embarked on a series of international performance contracts that took them around the world. Over the next several years, they performed together in destinations including Hong Kong, Morocco, French Polynesia, Brazil, and throughout the Caribbean. These experiences exposed them to diverse cultures and musical traditions, helping to shape their vision for building a vibrant arts community in Niagara.
In 2011, Juliet joined Toronto’s Jazz.FM91 as host of Sunrise with Juliet Dunn, airing every Saturday and Sunday morning until 2014. During this period, the duo shifted their focus from international touring to cultivating a local jazz scene. They launched the Twilight Jazz Series, a monthly concert series dedicated to showcasing Niagara’s growing community of jazz musicians.
What began as a modest series soon gained momentum and support from Brock University and the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre during its formative years. As the audience grew, Juliet and Peter expanded the programming to feature some of Canada’s most respected jazz artists, including Mike Murley, Heather Bambrick, Kevin Turcotte, Reg Schwager, the Heavyweights Brass Band, and Barbra Lica.
Today, the Twilight Jazz Series continues to thrive and remains one of Niagara’s longest-running jazz concert series, bringing together audiences and artists while fostering a strong sense of community through live music.
In 2013, Juliet and Peter took their vision outdoors by producing Twilight Jazz on the Beach in Crystal Beach. While modest in scale, the event became an important testing ground for ideas that would later become signature elements of the Niagara Jazz Festival: exceptional music, beautiful Niagara settings, community engagement, dance instruction, and accessible programming.
The success of these initiatives inspired the duo to explore the creation of a regional jazz festival. Their research revealed that while Niagara hosted occasional one-day jazz events, no multi-day jazz festival existed for the region. Recognizing an opportunity, they began laying the foundation for what would become the Niagara Jazz Festival.
A pivotal moment came in November 2013 when Juliet and Peter met with respected Niagara businessman Joe Robertson. After discussing their vision, they invited him to become involved in the project. Without hesitation, Joe agreed. Eight months later, Juliet Dunn, Peter Shea, and Joe Robertson launched the inaugural TD Niagara Jazz Festival.
The first festival took place exclusively in Niagara-on-the-Lake in August 2014. Although modest in scale, it was built on a much larger vision: bringing world-class jazz experiences to communities throughout the Niagara Region. Through strong partnerships with wineries, local businesses, artists, and community leaders, the festival grew organically and quickly established itself as a unique cultural offering in Canada’s wine country.
Peter often spoke of Niagara’s potential to become the “New Orleans of the North.” Juliet has long believed that the Niagara Jazz Festival could one day achieve international recognition comparable to some of the world’s great jazz festivals. Those ambitions continue to guide the organization’s growth.
The festival became a member of Jazz Festivals Canada in its third year and was named Best New Festival in Ontario in 2017. It has also been recognized multiple times as one of Ontario’s Top 100 Festivals.
Beyond presenting concerts, the organization has created lasting community impact through initiatives such as JAZZ 4 the AGES, a youth performance and mentorship program, and the LIVE LEARN JAZZ Series, which combines education and entertainment for audiences of all ages. Additional signature events, including World Music on the Beach and Niagara’s Summer Mardi Gras celebrations, have further expanded the festival’s reach and audience.
From its grassroots beginnings, the not-for-profit festival has grown into a significant cultural organization. During the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, the festival continued to support artists by presenting 97 performances featuring more than 350 musicians. Over the years, it has produced hundreds of concerts and provided employment opportunities for thousands of artists.
In August 2022, Peter Shea passed away following a courageous battle with cancer at the age of 50. He is deeply missed by his wife Juliet, his family, friends, fellow musicians, students, and the wider community. His vision, passion, and dedication remain woven into the fabric of the Niagara Jazz Festival, and his legacy continues to inspire the organization’s work today.
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