In a press release earlier this week, Canadian composer and co-founder of the Rainforest World Music Festival, Randy Raine-Reusch, announced that he will move on from his position as the Artistic Director of both the Rainforest World Music Festival and Borneo Jazz festival, effective immediately.
Raine-Reusch co-founded the Rainforest festival in 1997 and ran it for three years before placing it into local hands. He was called back four years ago to help its remodelling, when he also took the artistic reins of the then Miri International Jazz Festival. In the last four years, he led the rebranding of Miri Jazz festival to Borneo Jazz, brought in headline acts for both festivals, laid the groundwork for both festivals to grow, go green, and become more community active.
Raine-Reusch will be replaced by a local Sarawakian, a move that is both financial and political. He will continue to work on other projects with the Malaysian and other governments as a consultant to investigate new festivals and other musical projects. He will continue to work privately in presenting concerts and events in Canada and abroad and assist artists international through mentoring programs, and personal management.