Each summer, The Montreux Jazz Festival (MJF) takes place for two weeks in Switzerland, on Lake Geneva’s shores. Shure has backed the festival each year since 1995 by providing onsite support and a large number of wired as well as wireless microphones. Sadly, of course, this year is different, and like so many events across the globe, MJF 2020 was unable to take place.
Determined to ensure music lives on despite the current global crisis, the team at The Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation (MJAF)—a non-profit foundation helping to promote up-and-coming talent—has maintained its activities despite the cancellation of July’s annual MJF festival dates. Coined “Autumn of Music”, a series of COVID-secure performances and workshops were successfully staged in October.
The free week-long event consisted of concerts by emerging Swiss talent and the Montreux Jazz Academy, plus workshops, music listening and jam sessions. Music plays a vital role in our societies as one of the many human activities that make life worth living. Naturally, the artists and the public alike quickly expressed their delight in experiencing music together once more, and the event was a resounding success.
More than ever through these difficult times, the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation is eager to carry out its initiatives to support new talent, encourage the development of their careers, and foster creativity while sharing music.
“In this chaotic context, the human and artistic values of the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation, namely creativity, talent, sharing, and coaching, have a particularly powerful resonance. The Foundation’s initiatives in support of emerging musicians, creativity, and career development have never been more essential.” said Viviane Rychner Raouf, MJAF’s Secretary General.
A passion for live music is enshrined in what makes Shure the company it is today. It is at the heart of the companies 95-year history and forms the bedrock of every other corner of the business. When the opportunity came to support MJAF in its mission to ensure live music continued in Montreux through 2020, Shure were delighted to get involved.
“We’ve worked closely with the Montreux Jazz Festival for 25 years,” commented Tuomo Tolonen, Shure’s Senior Director of Pro Audio for Western Europe. “This commitment is not only as a technical partner to the event but also in key talent-focused initiatives. When it became clear that 2020’s event would not take place, it was always going to come as a disappointment. However, the music industry is notoriously determined and resilient, as demonstrated by the success of Autumn of Music. We’re delighted to work with the MJAF in securing the success of this event, and we look forward to MJF 2021. If history is anything to go back, next year’s event will be more spectacular than ever before.”