The Guelph Jazz Festival (GJF) was created in 1994 by founding Artistic Director Ajay Heble and a group of like-minded friends who sought to present creative improvised music in Guelph. Celebrating it’s 30th anniversary in 2023, the organisation has grown from its humble grassroots beginnings into an established annual event, powered by the incredible work of 70+ volunteers, and a team of enthusiastic staff and board members, all of whom are committed to bringing vibrant and adventurous musical experiences to downtown Guelph. Our many successes include: presenting hundreds of ticketed concerts of local, national and international artists; producing a free, outdoor concert series in the downtown core making adventurous music accessible to all those who wish to attend; convening an educational colloquium in partnership with the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation (IICSI) at the University of Guelph that examines improvisation within a cultural and social context and is free and open to the public; winning the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts (2010) and being named as a finalist the previous two years; receiving the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Arts (1997, 2000, 2001) for continued growth and innovation; the GJF in the Schools and GJF in the Community programs, interactive workshop series lead by world-class musicians exposing students and adults to music making and improvisation; and our GJF Around Town program that encourages local restaurants and bars to participate in the Festival by presenting live music in their establishments.