The Guelph Jazz Festival is pleased to announce the hiring of Chelsea Masse and Joe Sorbara as Executive Staff for 2024 – 2027.
photo by Damian Watson
Chelsea Masse takes on the role of General Director, drawing on her extensive background in the nonprofit sector and her long-standing passion for the festival as a dedicated attendee since 2017. “I am honored to work alongside Joe as we shape the festival’s creative and artistic directions over the next three years,” Masse says. “Together, we look forward to nurturing the improvised music community, strengthening our ties within Guelph’s arts scene, and ensuring the Guelph Jazz Festival remains an accessible and enduring pillar of the city’s cultural events for years to come.” Chelsea previously worked at both the Canadian Independent Music Association and MusicOntario. She is also a musician, participating in community shows such as Audiopollination and Temporary Ensembles Nights.
Joe Sorbara joins the festival as Artistic Director. “This festival has been profoundly important to my development as a listener, as a performer and composer, as a community organiser, and as an educator and scholar,” says Sorbara. “This opportunity to participate in the next stage of its journey in the role of Artistic Director brings me great joy.” Known to audiences as a sensitive and engaging performer, Sorbara also has a great deal of experience curating and producing concert and festival events that celebrate creative music-making in all of its diversity. They have been organising in Toronto for nearly twenty five years through the formative Leftover Daylight and Interface Series’, the Association of Improvising Musicians Toronto, and the Somewhere There Creative Music Festival, in addition to years of monthly programming at the Tranzac. Newly returned home to Guelph, they have been working on nurturing the local scene among the dedicated family of staff and volunteers at Silence for the past few years.
Board President Brian Lefresne said, “I am excited for Joe and Chelsea’s appointments to these positions as they bring a unique blend of personal and professional experiences to their roles that will help the Guelph Jazz Festival continue its commitment to presenting excellent, unconventional music and ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization.” Lefresne also expressed his sincere thanks and gratitude to outgoing Interim General Director and Interim Artistic Director Alex Ricci and Karen Ng for all their contributions, both public facing and behind the scenes, over the past year. Both Lefresne and the Board of Directors wish the two of them the best of luck in all of their future endeavors.
The 2025 Guelph Jazz Festival will take place September 11-14.