Jazz fest’s financial chief fired

The University of Idaho has fired the executive director of its flagship music event, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.

Steven Remington’s contract was terminated earlier this month, said Andrew Kersten, dean of UI’s College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences.

The festival’s artistic director, John Clayton, remains an employee of the university, Kersten said. As to whether Clayton will continue to be the face of the festival, Kersten said, “we are examining all plans for the jazz festival. Our plan is to have a brilliant 50th.”

The festival’s 50th anniversary is in 2017. It brings jazz artists to the UI campus for concerts and workshops during a weeklong schedule each February.

Remington was named executive director of the annual event in 2010. The position oversees the financial functions of the festival, its vision and goals, educational aspects, funding, donor relationships and promotion.

Kersten said he could not provide the reason for Remington’s termination because of employer-employee confidentiality. When asked whether it was the result of poor festival attendance or ticket sales, Kersten said that information is confidential and between the institution and its former employee.

The total number of concert attendees in 2016 was 6,366, only slightly down from the 6,370 in 2015, according to numbers Kersten provided. He said the “high water year” was the 2010 festival, which drew 10,707 concert attendees.

A public announcement of Remington’s termination was delayed so that the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival Advisory Board could be consulted on changes, Kersten said.

“We want a stronger jazz festival,” he said.

The board and administrators are in the process of envisioning how to make the festival stronger, more sustainable and how to increase the economic effect on the community, he said. Organizers also want to grow community involvement and attendance by university, middle school and high school students.

“Once we have a good vision we’ll need to resource it in terms of money and staff,” he said of any future decisions about filling the vacant position. “The work is driving the employment; it’s not the employment driving the work.”