Gabrielle Jones, Jennifer Anderson, Karen Wood, Sandra Merk, Jordy Yack, Michael Chess

Michael Chess

Michael Chess is a good for nothin’ long-haired musician.  He has performed and recorded with a variety of original and cover bands in the Niagara Region throughout his life and currently fronts THE FIGURE FOUR who enjoy great critical and commercial success in Japan and the Netherlands. Michael currently designs all of the marketing materials for the Centre for the Arts, Brock University including the HOT TICKET professional music, dance, comedy, theatre and family entertainment season. His multi-faceted role allows him to be involved in the arts from programming to promoting, and to be the liaison between the artists and the audience.  Michael is passionate about music, graphic design and a variety of art forms and is proud to support, and be a part of, Niagara’s growing arts landscape.

Gabrielle Jones

Gabrielle is delighted to be offering her services as juror for this exciting showcase of local artists. An actor who has resided in the Niagara region since 1987, Gabrielle has been a long time member of the Shaw Festival appearing in such shows as "Sunday in the Park with George", "Follies", "Tristan" and "Gypsy".  She also spent 4 seasons with the Stratford Festival and was in the cast of the North American premier of "Mamma Mia!". Additional credits include productions with the Vancouver Playhouse, Mirvish Productions and Stage West.  Upcoming: "The Cherry Orchard" and "One Touch of Venus" for The Shaw Festival. Gabrielle continues to be blown away by the depth and variety of artistic talent in the Niagara Region...is it something in the water?

Sandra Merk

Sandra Merk is a professor of English at Niagara College as well as a writer and contributing editor for Niagara Magazine. Sandra’s roots in Niagara run deep: although planted in Toronto, she grew and blossomed in Fonthill and was later transplanted to Port Dalhousie where she currently thrives.

Karen Wood

Karen is a Niagara singer/actor/ director. She began her performing career 32 years ago in Ottawa as a member of the National Arts Centre English Theatre Company. Since then Karen has performed at many major theatres across Canada including 8 seasons with the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and 10 seasons with the Shaw Festival. Other Niagara credits include performances with the Niagara Symphony, Carousel Players and Lyndesfarne Theatre Projects. While at Shaw Karen began her directing career by assisting resident director Neil Munro on Granville Barker’s HIS MAJESTY. Other directing credits include assistant to international director Laszlo Marton on THE PLAY’S THE THING with the Soulpepper Theatre Company, AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS with The Evergreen Singers, MADAME BUTTERFLY pocket opera with the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Festival and I CONFESS I HAVE LIVED, a workshop based on the poetry of Pablo Neruda with members of the Toronto Symphony. Karen was also adjudicator for the Niagara District Sears Drama Festival.

Jordy Yack

Jordy Yack loves vegetables and indie rock. 
He's the editor-in-chief of Pulse Niagara and has been working with the alt-weekly since 2004. He's also a music journalist and writes for View Magazine, Echo Weekly and Pulse Niagara. Jordy studied general arts at Brock University and was a radio dj at CFBU (103.7fm) from 2001 to 2008. He's an avid cyclist, loves drawing maps and playing ultimate frisbee. In his spare time he contributes to the local music scene by promoting rock and roll shows downtown, and occasionally spinning electro, robot-rock and indie rock at dance parties.

Jennifer Anderson

Jenn is a music lover, hockey madwoman and ardent supporter of the arts in St. Catharines; she is also a tireless community worker, Vice- Chairperson of the St. Catharines Downtown Association (2006 – present), and Executive Board member since 2003. She holds position on various downtown business committees, and most prominently is the co-producer of St. Catharine’s wildly successful S.C.E.N.E. music festival, now in its 15th year. Before S.C.E.N.E. took over her life she was the co-owner/operator of Tantrum Records, St. Catharines premier unique music store, from 1995 – 2005.