The SweetWater Music Festival has launched an extensive search for a new Artistic Director as its current Artistic Director Mark Fewer will move on following the 2019 season. Fewer, who co-founded the annual music festival in 2004 based in Owen Sound and Meaford, Ontario, recently became Artistic Director for Stratford Summer Music.

This past year SweetWater, which features the world’s best musicians performing classical, jazz and contemporary music, marked its 15th anniversary. SweetWater Board Chair Colleen Purdon admits finding a successor for Fewer will be one of the organization’s most significant initiatives since it was founded.

“We are confident that we will find a new artistic leader who will build on Mark’s musical legacy and continue the vision and excellence of SweetWater.”

SweetWater has formed a Succession Committee as part of the search for a new Artistic Director. It includes current and past Board Members, community stakeholders, current Artistic Director, and an outside resource from the music community.

Along with providing artistic programming for SweetWater, the Artistic Director will also perform and collaborate with musicians, support grants submissions to public funders, participate in community outreach and education initiatives, and build relationships in the local and larger music community.

Individuals interested in applying to become Artistic Director can find more details on the Festival’s web site, www.sweetwatermusicfestival.ca

SweetWater plans to announce the name of the new Artistic Director in early spring 2019. Fewer’s successor will also be formally introduced during the main Festival event in September.

The 16th SweetWater Music Festival will take place September 20 to 22, 2019. More details about performers and concerts will be released in early 2019.

source: media release, SweetWater Music Festival