There have been a number of changes with the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, and we’d like to bring our fans up to date.
A few years ago, the Healdsburg Jazz Festival leadership determined that in order to continually improve the Festival, it needed to expand. There was sincere interest in increasing the scope and reach of the Jazz Festival through its programming and curatorial concept. In order to practically accomplish these goals, consideration was given to increasing the staff, broadening the sponsorship base to include national underwriters, and expanding the concept of the music beyond the classic jazz form that has come to define the festival.
No one could have forseen the financial crisis looming at that time, and soon after the loss of sponsorships, declining ticket sales, and impact to patron dollars that are still being felt by non-profits across the nation. The Jazz Festival has not been immune to this crisis, and has felt its impact in lower ticket sales, declining contributions, and burdensome staffing costs. However we now have benefit of hindsight, and can embrace the lessons learned by allowing them to inform our future plans.
Most importantly, jazz lovers from all over the country let us know that, although there is always interest in learning about and experiencing new jazz talent, maintaining the original curatorial concept of the music- true jazz- is paramount. Secondly, we need to strengthen the support in our own community so we aren’t beholden to the marketing needs of national sponsors that may not have our community’s best interest at heart, and whose support is never guaranteed. Thirdly, the organization’s infrastructure needs to reflect these realities by maintaining a small staff and a lean budget.
In the pursuit of these goals, a new board of directors has been assembled who have the business acumen, and the passion, necessary to guide us into the future. Several past board members, whose experience and perspective are deeply valued, have agreed to continue as Honorary Board Members. Many community leaders, eager to ensure the Festival’s success, have stepped up as Jazz Festival ambassadors, ready and willing to act as advisors whom the Board can call on for guidance and support. And some of the world’s leading jazz musicians who have come to perform, and come to love, this jewel of a festival are acting as the ultimate fans by lending their voices in support and generously offering to perform fundraisers to ensure that the Festival continues to flourish.
Our future is bright, as the Healdsburg Jazz Festival looks forward to continuing to bring year round jazz, jazz education, and the beloved jazz festival to our community and to the world. Stay tuned!