The Festival’s Artistic Directors are Eric Harding, Jon Gearey and Carlos Maldonado Cisneros. Eric Harding is one of Montreal’s most recognized jazz pianists. Over a career spanning more than 35 years, he has accompanied many of Quebec’s iconic artists, recorded and led his own groups, and performed across Canada and Europe. An important part of North Hatley’s history and its musical scene today, his family has been established above Lake Massawippi since the mid-1950s. It was only natural that he chose to name his trio Auburn, a family legacy steeped in memory and belonging. Born in Montreal in the 1990s, the Auburn Trio first performed in the intimate lounges of the Hotel Vogue before finding new life at the Mercantile in North Hatley, a venue that has since given way to Café Bistro DuPont.
Recognized as one of the finest 7-string guitarists in North America, Jon Gearey has been an essential presence on the jazz scene since the mid-1980s. From Tokyo to New York, through Korea and the Montreal Jazz Festival, his journey is that of an insatiable musician, always striving for perfection. Settled in North Hatley since 2012 with his family, Jon launched the popular Saturday Night Jazz at the Mercantile with his wife Louise in 2022 — the jazz evenings that sparked the idea for the festival. Today, he passes on his passion by teaching at Bishop’s University and the University of Sherbrooke, and continues to perform weekly in North Hatley and surrounding areas in various musical settings.
An iconic figure on both the Canadian and Mexican jazz scenes, bassist Carlos Maldonado Cisneros moves effortlessly between two rich and complementary musical cultures. Having shared the stage with legends such as Marcus Miller and Tower of Power, and collaborated with international heavyweights like Ben Wendel and Greg Cohen, Carlos brings to the festival a broad and diverse vision of jazz. Holder of a master’s degree in jazz composition and performance from the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, he is also the founder of several bold ensembles, including the avant-garde Chocolate Smoke Gang
