NANCY CLARIDGE

Director

Nancy Claridge was raised in Orangeville and is a partner at the law firm Carters Professional Corporation, a firm that focuses on charity and not-for-profit organizations, in addition to serving the local community. She tries to make a positive impact on the community, serving on the board of the Festival, as well as serving as the former President of the Orangeville Concert Association, the current Vice President of the Dufferin County Law Association, a board member of the Greater Dufferin Area Estate Planning Council, a member of the Rights Advisory Committee for Community Living Dufferin and a member of the Compliance Audit Committee for the Upper Grand District School Board. Nancy is a mezzo soprano and frequently performs with the Headwaters’ Concert Choir, the Great Lakes Touring Chorus and the Amaranth Chamber Choir.

DONNA HENDERSON

Director

Donna grew up on a farm in Northern Dufferin near Corbetton. At Dundalk and Flesherton high schools she joined the debating, public speaking, drama and choir teams. She has performed in musical and dramatic productions for Dundalk Little Theatre and Shelburne Grace Tipling Players as well as staging her own plays during her teaching career. As a classroom teacher, she taught Art on rotary to all classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12 using skills from the College of Art. While teaching intermediate grades, negotiating and Federation (Union) obligations took much of her spare time. Currently she serves as Secretary for the Upper Grand Occasional Teachers.Her volunteer committee work has included Hospice Dufferin Board, Westminster United Church Board and the Community Advisory Council for Headwaters Health Care Centre. She is a member of the Orangeville Labour Council. She joined the Orangeville Agricultural Society as a volunteer, then a board member and served two-year terms as President of the Agricultural Society. She has volunteered at the Blues and Jazz weekend in Orangeville and hopes to broaden that experience. On the Dufferin Arts Council she is Secretary and Chair of the Artists in The Schools Program. Provincially, she worked on the Retired Teachers of Ontario Political Advocacy Committee. Presently, she is the President of Bruce Grey, Dufferin Retired Teachers. She spends time gardening, tutoring reluctant students, dabbling in acrylic painting and playing with Petite Bijou, her Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. She is caregiver for her uncle who at 100 still living on his own in Orangeville.She wants to give back to her community in as many ways as possible.

LARRY KURTZ

Founder & Artistic Director

Long time musician and lead singer of the award-winning Trouble and Strife Blues Band, Larry’s passion for the Blues is so profound he wanted to celebrate it with his community. As Founder of the Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival, Larry’s name is synonymous with the Festival. Over the years Larry has participated in all aspects of the Festival, and remains the Artistic Director and driving force 15 years later. In 2016 Larry was named Blues Booster of The Year by the Toronto Blues Society. Larry studied Media Arts at Sheridan College and along with his talent as a musician and artist, he is a fine craftsman and the owner of Kurtz Architectural Millworks in Orangeville for the past 27 years. Larry commitment to high quality craftsmanship is well known and he is just as committed to securing high quality programming at each and every Festival.

JOSH LEITCH

President

Josh has been president since September 2017, and a Festival Board member since 2016. Josh joined the OBJF volunteer group 15 years ago, partially due to his love for the music. He believes that a community can exist only if we work hard at it. He is pleased to be part of this one. Josh moved his family, wife Linda and 3 very active children, to Orangeville in 1989. He started his career 42 years ago at, and continues to work for, Canadian Tire Corporation. His current role is Program Manager, Enterprise Projects. He has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and is a certified Project Management Professional. He teaches part time at Humber College.

ALISON SCHEEL

Director

As General Manager of the Orangeville BIA & Farmer’s Market, Alison’s strength is in building relationships and fostering small, independent businesses. As a strong supporter of the Festival both personally & professionally, Alison volunteers her time because she believes in the importance of the Festival to Downtown Orangeville and the community as a whole. Moving to the area the same year the Festival debuted, Alison & her family have made the Festival an annual family event, with friends and family coming from all over the province to enjoy warm Blues & cool Jazz in the park. “The Blues & Jazz Festival made us fall head over heels for our new community – the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the music is high quality – a fabulous weekend for visitors, and small town living at its very best for residents”. A Board member since 2013, Alison hopes to make a positive contribution to the Festival for many years to come. Alison studied Political Science at York University.

NOTE: None of the individual directors hold elective office or are appointed by any municipal body.