Willard Jenkins, Artistic Director
email: muzikmuse@comcast.net
A 1973 graduate of Kent State University, Willard Jenkins has devoted much of his life’s work to nurturing the growth and enhancement of jazz music as a fine art form. He has been an arts administrator, producer, presenter, journalist, broadcaster, educator, and consultant. Jenkins is an independent arts consultant, producer, and writer under the Open Sky banner. Much of Jenkins’ current activity includes concert and festival planning, artistic direction, consulting, music journalism, and broadcast production work. He currently serves as artistic director of an annual concert series at Tribeca Performing Arts Center and as artistic adviser to 651 Arts. His newest affiliation is as a consultant for Arts Midwest managing the NEA Jazz Masters on Tour program. Jenkins is a regular contributor to National Public Radio’s review service, Jazz Riffs, and currently has radio programs on WPFW in Washington, DC and XM Satellite Radio.
Some of the other organizations Jenkins has been associated with include: Black Entertainment Television, National Jazz Service Organization, Cleveland State University, Northeast Ohio Jazz Society, Smithsonian Institution, Aaron Davis Hall, Rhythm and Blues Foundation, and The Plain Dealer
In 1995 Jenkins was appointed Artistic director of TriC JazzFest Cleveland. He is responsible for the artistic direction of the festival, negotiation of artists’ contracts, and national public relations.
Cliffie Jones, Business Manager
Phone: 216-987-4049 Fax: 216-987-4186
email: cliffie.jones@tri-c.edu
Cliffie Jones is an integral part of Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland’s day-to-day operations. She has been involved with Tri-C JazzFest for many years and serves many more roles than just Business Mgr! In addition to jazz, she has a great love of the theater and is very active in Cleveland’s Public theater as a gifted actress. Come see Cliffie on stage!
Philip Campbell, Production Manager
Phone: 216-987-4546 Fax: 216-987-4186
email: philip.campbell@tri-c.edu
Philip Campbell has worked in the Theater and Creative Arts Departments at Tri-C for 15 years. He has worked as Production Manager for the Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland for 13 of those years. During this time he has worked with various outside companies including Belkin Productions, Rock Capital Sound, 8th Day Sound, Dance Cleveland and Dancing Wheels on events that range from dance and theatre to musical productions. With a focus on all things technical and his experience with sound, lighting, rigging and staging, Philip manages between 60 and 80 productions a year for Tri-C Creative Arts.
Phil Barr, Marketing Consultant
Phone: (216) 334-9591
email: pbarr11@roadrunner.com
Phil Barr, an avid jazz fan, is an accomplished communications professional with experience in public relations, media relations, strategic marketing, advertising, direct mail, branding and event planning. A principal of Barr Communications, he previously worked at Hybrid Marketing, a full-service marketing and public relations agency. While at Hybrid, Barr worked on a variety of educational, consumer and business-to-business accounts, including Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland Institute of Music, Ursuline College, DANCECleveland, Corporate Screening Services, T. Marzetti Company, Meyer Products and Kalahari Waterpark Resort. Barr is the recipient of three PRSA Cleveland Rocks Awards, given annually by the Greater Cleveland Chapter of PRSA (Public Relations Society of America). He studied English and journalism at the University of Akron and at Vesalius College, in Brussels, Belgium.