(Courtesy: Tourism Medicine Hat)

By CHAT News Staff

Medicine Hat JazzFest showrunner to step down after 26 years

Apr 25, 2024 | 11:12 AM

Longtime Medicine Hat JazzFest showrunner Lyle Rebbeck is stepping down following this year’s festival after 26 years in the role.

Long-time Medicine Hat JazzFest Executive and Artistic Director Lyle Rebbeck will be stepping down from his position following the 2024 JazzFest. (Courtesy: Medicine Hat JazzFest)

Rebbeck was a founder of the local jazz society in 1991 and assisted with running a series that presented year-round jazz programming for six years before the festival began in 1997.

He took over as executive and artistic director in fall 1998 and has served in the position since.

“It has been an absolute privilege to bring thousands of the world’s best musicians to our city over these many years,” Rebbeck said in a statement.

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“To meet and get to know so many talented artists, to work with the other major jazz festivals across Canada, to see the knowledge and love of jazz grow in our city and area and to see children and young people turned on to music is a satisfaction and joy beyond words.”

Under Rebbeck’s leadership, the Medicine Hat JazzFest grew to become a week-long festival with an average annual pre-pandemic attendance that represented 10 per cent of the city’s population.

The festival was cancelled in 2020 due to pandemic restrictions and was digital-only in 2021 before returning to full strength in 2022.

Former Medicine Hat MLA and legislative assembly speaker Bob Wanner praised Rebbeck’s commitment to the jazz scene.

“Lyle’s commitment, energy, time and efforts over decades has showcased Medicine Hat and its facilities to the jazz music world,” Wanner said.

“The winners from his efforts have been the citizens of Medicine Hat.”

The board of the Medicine Hat Jazz Society is working on the next steps for the JazzFest, and following this year’s festival, will be finalizing plans for the path forward at which time they will be communicating those plans to the community.