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.

Pauline Comerford joins the Niagara Jazz Festival as the volunteer Executive Administrative Assistant. Bringing a background in adult education, human resources and business administration with the Ontario Government, Pauline is perfectly positioned to lend her skills to the Festival.Working for several Ontario ministries, her roles included Trainer, Training Development Analyst, Workforce Lead, Human Resources Consultant, Project Officer and Manager.Having recently retired, Pauline has made volunteering one of her priorities – feeling she is very blessed in her own life and wishing to give back. Toward that end, Pauline has also volunteered for the FamilyVisit Centre of the Peel Children’s Aid, Trillium Hospital, Distress Centre of Peel (provide free, confidential support through a distress phone line), Wellspring Niagara (support for those living with cancer and their families) and sponsors two wonderful children through the Children Believe charitable organization.

Pauline enjoys administration and organizing – and ticking the box when a job is not just done well, but done completely, is a highlight! 

Pauline’s other priorities are her husband James AND working with him in their cellular health business as the Director of Operations. 

Founder of Niagara's go-to, referral-only boutique event production company. Four decades in live events as a concert promoter and production manager on festivals and international arena and theater tours. Builder of major corporate brand experiences. Sipper of whisky and wine. Collector of vintage jazz and rock records. Proud supporter and partner of the Niagara Jazz Festival since day 1. 

Owner, Hotson AV | AV Manager, The OLG Stage Niagara Falls

Gerry Hotson’s career in audio started on stage. He played guitar in original bands throughout the 1990s, and it was there he caught the bug for sound and live production. That hands-on curiosity quickly turned into a career.

He cut his teeth with Entertainment Niagara, running sound for university convocations, music festivals, and corporate events across the region. In the early 2000s he launched Hotsound Recording, working with artists including Serena Ryder, Kim Mitchell, the Toronto Mass Choir, Ron Sexsmith, and Tim Hicks.

Today, Gerry wears two hats: he’s the owner of Hotson AV and serves as an AV Manager at The OLG Stage in Niagara Falls. His live production credits span four decades of Canadian and international acts, including A Flock of Seagulls, Saga, TEDx, Sonia Aimy, The Spoons, Images In Vogue, The Gallery Players of Niagara, Rough Trade, Platinum Blonde, Teenage Head, The Caverners, Juliet Dunn, Helix, and Danny ZZZZ.

From musician to studio engineer to venue manager, Gerry brings a player’s ear and a producer’s attention to detail to every show.

Mathieu Gagné is recognized as one of Canada’s leading figures in artist hospitality and backstage operations, with nearly two decades of experience delivering world-class artist experiences across North America’s premier music festivals. His career spans globally renowned events, including Coachella, Stagecoach, EDC Las Vegas, Rolling Loud, and Festival d’Été de Québec, where he has consistently operated at the highest level of large-scale festival production. Known for his precision and steady leadership in high-pressure environments, Mathieu has become a trusted partner to both production teams and artist representatives. He currently serves as Artist World Director for Evenko, overseeing one of the largest and most complex artist hospitality operations in the country across Osheaga, ÎLESONIQ, and Lasso Montréal.

In parallel, Mathieu is the co-founder of Matthouse Artist Hospitality, a boutique company he operates alongside his core collaborator Thea, delivering hands-on, high-level support to festivals of all sizes. Together, they provide tailored expertise across advancing, logistics, and on-site execution, helping both emerging and established events elevate their artist experience. With a shared commitment to excellence and a deeply practical approach to live production, Mathieu and Thea continue to set a benchmark for artist care, contributing to the success of festivals across Canada and beyond.

Thea has spent the past six years working across the live event industry, with experience spanning audio production, touring, and now, artist hospitality. A graduate of Metalworks Institute, she got her start as an audio technician with Soundbox Productions while also touring across North America and Europe with artists like Billy Talent, Frank Turner, The Tenors, and Amaal Nuux.

Since then, she's been focused primarily on artist hospitality, supporting some of music’s biggest acts at festivals including Osheaga Festival, Lasso Montréal, and ÎleSoniq, supporting artists and teams to keep things running smoothly in fast-paced environments. Raised in a home filled with jazz and early exposure to event production, Thea brings a natural sense of rhythm, adaptability, and care to her work. She now supports festivals across Canada alongside Matt Gagné at Matthouse, helping create thoughtful, well-run spaces where artists and audiences can connect.

Gianna Annunziata is currently studying marketing management at the University of Guelph’s Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics, where she is developing a strong foundation in branding, consumer behavior, digital marketing, and communications.

With a passion for creativity, branding, and audience engagement, Gianna has developed skills in social media marketing, content creation, event promotion, and customer relations through both academic and professional experiences. She is especially interested in how brands connect with audiences through storytelling, creative strategy, and digital media.

This summer, Gianna is working with the Niagara Jazz Festival as a summer student, where she is gaining hands-on experience in social media, marketing, and community engagement within the live music and events industry. Through this role, she has contributed to promotional campaigns, newsletters, audience engagement initiatives, and event communications while continuing to grow her knowledge of the entertainment and marketing industries.

Currently, Gianna is excited to continue learning, building meaningful connections, and growing her experience within branding, social media strategy, and event marketing as she works alongside industry professionals and creatives throughout the Niagara region.

Mila Bolgar is currently in her first year of her Bachelor of Music program at Humber Polytechnic, where she primarily studies jazz voice.

As a child, she studied contemporary voice for 6 years, then switched to classical voice with the Royal Conservatory of Music for 7 years, as well as studying classical piano during the same time frame. Throughout her time studying voice, she has starred as a lead role in two Welland Centennial High School productions; Katherine in “Newsies”, as well as Cady in “Mean Girls”. 

Before graduating, she also had the chance to have a supporting role in Centennial's original production of “We Are The Water”, a show aiming to raise awareness around water rights and protection. Mila and her classmates’ show went on to perform for parliament on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, where Mila helped the story come to life with a song titled “Song for the Water” by Logan Staats, Rob Lamothe and Layla Saats. Afterwards, Rob Lamothe (the producer of ‘Song for the Water’) asked Mila to sing on a new recording of the song with himself, Logan, and Layla, retitling the song after Centennial Highschool’s show: “We are the Water”.

Currently, Mila is enjoying getting more experience within the music industry - specifically within the jazz music scene.

Deysi Medina is an Audiovisual Producer and Digital Project Manager who brings creative visions to life across television, media, entertainment studios, live events, podcasts, and digital campaigns. Born and raised in Colombia, she is driven by a deep passion for the arts, music, and global storytelling.

Her experience includes volunteering and creating content for the Niagara Jazz Festival, where she gained valuable insight into the music industry. While she does not identify as a photographer, she embraces capturing authentic moments often as “someone with a camera in the right place at the right time.”

Known for being calm in the production storm, Deysi combines organization, creativity, and a genuine love for making great content happen. When she’s not on set or leading digital projects, she enjoys staying active whether running outdoors or swimming laps.

Lou will be the first to tell you about the musical talent in her family is abundant—just not equally distributed. One of the youngest in a family of musicians, she grew up with a deep love for music and an even deeper appreciation for the people who make it. Proud of her roots, she has channeled that sense of community into action: organizing events, designing promotional materials, and volunteering at live concerts and youth programs.

 Now finishing a degree in Social Sciences, Lou is endlessly curious and genuinely fascinated by people; their stories, their strengths, and what lights them up. Volunteering with the Niagara Jazz Festival feels like a natural fit: great music, great people, and plenty of both to discover.

Growing up in Ottawa and studying computer programming in Kingston, Mathieu has always blended technical skill with a passion for creativity in music and the arts. As the new Youth Liaison for the Niagara Jazz Festival, he is excited to help connect young people with the vibrant jazz scene in the region.

Music has always been a central part of Mathieu's life. He has played guitar for as long as he can remember, with a deep love for jazz and blues that continues to inspire him. Alongside his passion for music, he is equally committed to education and creating opportunities for youth to learn, connect, and express themselves through the arts.

Darlene Kertcher worked for many years as an intensive care RN and was also an ICU clinical instructor who taught RNs enrolled in the ICU training program. 

Darlene is an avid traveler who has climbed a mountain in Rwanda to see the silverback gorillas, taken multiple safaris, cruised down the Nile, and has visited many other countries.

When she decided to retire she knew she had to relocate to Niagara to live in wine country, where there are many opportunities to volunteer. 

Darlene started volunteering with the Niagara Jazz Festival in December 2016 with the Twilight Jazz Series. Since then as well as volunteering at many events she has been an administrative assistant, a team lead and now a guest coordinator. Darlene also volunteers with a number of other organizations in the NOTL area and organizes gift donations at Christmas and Easter for the children and moms at Birchway, a women's shelter in Niagara Falls.

Although she does not have a musical background, she thoroughly enjoys being part of the team, supporting the artists, and contributing to the festival's success in the Niagara region. 

Krista Hrin is an arts-loving educator, wellness professional, and community builder whose life and work are guided by creativity, listening, and connection. Her love of the arts—particularly jazz—was sparked in high school by her music teacher, Mac, whose mentorship instilled a lasting belief in expression, rhythm, and the power of being truly present.

This artistic foundation informs everything Krista does, from teaching and wellness work to community engagement and brand storytelling. She approaches her work with warmth and intention, valuing collaboration, authenticity, and care. Deeply committed to animal welfare, she also supports rescue dogs and holds training in K9 and feline first aid. Krista believes that art, compassion, and community are intertwined—and that when we listen closely, meaningful connection follows.

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.

Hi.... 68... Luv 60s thru 85 music rock. Jazz . Punk.... Retired ... Like wine good food part time cook ... Sports ... Me before a jazz event …

Bio coming soon...

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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.

Mau’veen is a retired civil servant with a desire to have something interesting to do in retirement. She was drawn by the Niagara Jazz Festival‘s mission to bring people together through the joy of jazz and world music. She started volunteering for the festival in 2016. What started as the right thing to do quickly became a joyous and meaningful adventure, one she has never once regretted. Over the years she has taken part in many aspects of the festival, providing guest support, supporting artists, and encouraging individuals to come out and enjoy the fun. She continues to look forward to participating in the upcoming Niagara Jazz Festival’s events.

Kate Urquhart moved to Niagara from Waterloo in 2023 and quickly connected with the Niagara Jazz Festival, first as a patron and now as a volunteer as well. As a psychotherapist, Kate believes music and community are essential for our health as individuals, communities, and societies. 

Ardeth and husband Rick attended events the first year of the Niagara Jazz Festival and thought it would be great to help make sure this event occurred in following years—so they volunteered! Jazz is a favorite genre, and it has been wonderful over the years to enjoy new and experienced jazz musicians who have come to Niagara. Ardeth has done everything as a volunteer, from serving wine to collecting donations to doing ‘ice runs’ for outdoor events to working with Shelley each year to organize the garage! It is great to meet so many amazing musicians and people. 

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 and bandleader, her love of music started at an early age. Kitchen parties and all genres of music were always welcomed in their home. 

With two adult daughters and four grandsons, she has more time to enjoy listening and dancing to local bands as well as supporting the many festivals in the region. There was no hesitation when Juliet asked her to help out at the very first Niagara Jazz Festival. Volunteering is a great way to meet like-minded people and help support live music in our community.

Monique is a yoga and meditation teacher. She loves to spend time with her family and friends and go on walks with her husband and their very active border collie Beau. A few of her many hobbies include reading, writing, gardening, and knitting. She also enjoys exploring small towns in Ontario every summer.

Jan Idzenga was born, raised, and lives in the Niagara Region. Raised in a family of musicians, Jan has always been drawn to the sounds of jazz through his father, a professional musician himself playing the sounds of big band and jazz music in the home.

Jan, also a performing musician, plays drums in 2 local bands and performs as a solo artist playing guitar and vocals at local venues. Being friends with numerous of the region's top jazz musicians introduced Jan to Juliet Dunn, who, when starting the Niagara Jazz Festival, was looking for volunteers. Looking to promote and grow live jazz music in the Niagara Region, Jan and his wife Monique hopped on board this adventure and have volunteered from the festival’s conception till the present.

 Jan has carried on volunteering through his retirement, and the opportunity to meet and experience the amazing talents of the high-caliber jazz musicians brought to Niagara through this festival has been a rewarding experience.

Bio coming soon...

Jeff is a Niagara based photographer whose love for the camera and music have combined in his business Jeff on Camera. For over 5 years, he’s had the privilege of shooting a variety of artists, from local musicians in small clubs to music icons in crowded stadiums. Whether it’s the Gasworks in Hamilton, or the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Jeff captures the energy and emotion of each performance and has the creative and technical skills to produce beautiful stage, promo and head shots. A musician himself, he anticipates the moments that translate into photos both artists and audiences love.