Jerry Lausmann, Director Emeritus
Dennis Ramsden, President
Jim DeMont, 1st Vice President
Kathy McCullough, 2nd Vice President
Mary Nutt, Treasurer
Ruth Wooton, Secretary
Pat Akery
Bud Bebeau
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Linda Casey
Anne Jenkins
Butch Naumes
MaryAnn Ramsden
Shirley Roberts
Leon Sherman
Ron Wallace
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| The story, told and retold over the years, starts in 1988 with Larry Bernard (leader of Journeys End Jazz Band) returning from the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee bubbling with enthusiasm over this thing called Jazz Jubilee. Medford surely needed one of these, thought Larry and with the help of his co founders Jerry Lausmann, the former Medford Mayor (and a musician in his own right) and the late Patti Bills, former Director of the Visitors and Convention Bureau, the enthusiasm spread.
The first Medford Jazz Jubilee was held in October 1989 with great success and much to do about community, music, worldwide musicians and spreading the joy of the true American art–form, Dixieland music. Just eight bands appeared that first year and the festival has grown over time to include as many as 18 bands and additional youth oriented programs.
For the 1990 festival the Jubilee added its first Youth Program which is, today, a main focus of the Medford Jubilee. Just 500 children participated in that first year’s program and well over 15,000 students are now entertained and introduced to jazz every year during the festival. Two front-line Jubilee bands are brought in early to perform all-student assemblies at over 30 area elementary schools and to conduct music student clinics at several middle schools. |
To complement the in-school program, the Oregon Coast Lab Band, consisting of over 150 students from ages 11-18, performs each year at this festival and beginning in 2008, so will our own widely acclaimed South Medford Suitz. Both student bands contain remarkable young people with bandleaders and parents that are to be commended for the commitment they have all made to their respective programs. The Medford Jazz Jubilee takes the Youth Program very seriously and annually makes a cash contribution to Medford Schools Foundation specifically earmarked to support music. In 2007, a membership structure was initiated to help perpetuate the Jubilee and to substantially increase support levels to the schools.
The Medford Jubilee is truly a musical event for all ages. Over the years we have stayed true to our Dixieland roots, but we have broadened our community and audience appeal by including Zydeco, Swing, Jump-Jive, Big Band and other music that is period-contemporary with the Traditional Jazz era.
The Medford Jazz Jubilee has the full support of the community and our loyal jazz fans. It is through the community support, continued attendance and great volunteer work that this Jubilee continues to be successful. |
