At the annual JPN AGM on the 23rd July, we elected three trustees to join the board.
Welcome to our new Trustee, Josie West, from London. Here’s what Josie has to say:
I am currently the Marketing Manager at Toulouse Lautrec Restaurant & Jazz Club where I have spent the past year working closely with artists, audiences and the wider live music community. My role has given me hands-on experience in grassroots promotion, communications, audience development and the day-to-day realities facing independent venues. Outside of my work, I am also a classical musician, which gives me a broad perspective on the challenges and opportunities across different parts of the music sector. I am passionate about supporting artists, strengthening grassroots venues and helping create more connected, sustainable pathways for musicians and promoters across the UK and Ireland. I care deeply about making jazz feel accessible, visible and supported, particularly for emerging artists and younger audiences.
Meet our next new Trustee: Adele McAlear (Montreal/Ireland) here Adele introduces herself:
I manage Irish artist Max Zaska, whose cross-genre work is rooted in collaboration with leading jazz musicians. Through managing his album releases, live work, and major improvised projects, I have built a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing artists in the Irish and UK jazz sectors. I’ve worked alongside the Improvised Music Company on initiatives and served as an Irish delegate to JazzAhead! in 2021, broadening my perspective on the international jazz network. In addition, I consult with artists across genres on audience development, revenue generation, promotion, and career strategy. I have secured more than €54,000 in arts funding over the past six years, achieving a 34% grant success rate, helped deliver crowdfunding campaigns that raised €30,000, and supported fundraising initiatives for several non-profits in other fields. In 2024, I was a Keychange Innovator and delivered a session at Reeperbahn on metadata for DIY artists. Improvised Music Company
Meet the third of our new Trustees! Fiona Mactaggart (Edinburgh)
I’m a 64-year-old Scottish – Australian woman who listens closely to music. I live in Edinburgh with my husband and one of my twin sons. For the last 10 years I have actively championed Jazz: writing reviews on my website Scottish Jazz Space and also for DooBeeDooBeeDoo – New York, Jazzwise website, UK Jazz News, Songlines magazine, Jazz in Europe and Women in Jazz Media. I have an interest in supporting those who are at risk of exclusion or are disadvantaged, such as (but not exclusively) older and younger musicians (encouraging cross-generational performances), and women. During the pandemic I co-founded Jazz Forward, and joined Women in Jazz Media in which I work on their magazine and on health and wellbeing for artists. Scottish Jazz Space Women in Jazz Media