Meet the Summer Students Bringing the 2026 Festival to Life
(Left to right: Matthew Goodwin, Talia Bergen, Alysha Goundrey and Aadi Kaur. (Missing: Annika Nicolle)
Every great festival is powered by passionate people working behind the scenes, and this summer we have five excellent reasons to be excited. Our 2026 summer student team brings together musicians, artists, event coordinators, community leaders and creative thinkers who are helping to make this year's Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival an amazing experience!
Supported through the Canada Summer Jobs program, this year's team reflects the creativity and diversity that define the Festival itself. Four of the five team members are musicians, several have worked professionally in arts and cultural settings around the world, and all bring unique skills, fresh perspectives and a genuine enthusiasm for community connection.
"Our summer students play an important role in every aspect of the Festival," says Executive Director, Karen Zukas. "This year's group brings incredible creativity, professionalism and energy. We're thrilled to have them on board!"
Annika Nicolle, Special Events Coordinator
A familiar face to many Festival supporters, Annika Nicolle joins the team as a Special Events Coordinator after volunteering with the Festival for the past two years. Graduating this year from Langley Fundamental Secondary School, Annika will pursue music studies after graduation.
As a jazz band and jazz choir performer, musical theatre lead and student leader, Annika brings a strong understanding of both event operations and the performer experience. Her previous Festival roles included Assistant Stage Manager, MC and Assistant Volunteer Coordinator.
"I'm excited to help create the kind of festival experience that inspired me as a volunteer and musician," says Annika.
Matthew Goodwin, Special Events Coordinator
Matthew Goodwin brings valuable technical expertise to the Festival team. Originally from South Africa and now a Langley resident, Matthew has experience in live sound, studio production and event logistics.
Having worked as a stage technician and audio professional, he understands what it takes to deliver seamless live performances. A musician himself, Matthew plays guitar, bass and piano and is currently studying history at the University of the Fraser Valley.
His combination of technical knowledge and event experience will support festival operations both on and off stage!
Talia Bergen, Special Events Coordinator
With a background in fine arts, arts administration and community programming, Talia Bergen joins the Festival team with a passion for making the arts accessible and welcoming.
A Plains Cree artist and recent Fine Art and Art History university graduate, Talia recently returned to Langley after several years studying and working in Wales. Her experience includes working in galleries, supporting exhibitions and helping deliver public arts programming.
"The Festival stood out to me because of how community-focused it is," says Talia. "It's exciting to be part of an event that celebrates creativity and brings people together."
Alysha Goundrey, Volunteer Coordinator
As Volunteer Coordinator, Alysha Goundrey will oversee the recruitment, scheduling and support of the Festival's volunteer team.
Alysha is completing her Master of Science in Management and brings extensive leadership experience as a varsity volleyball captain, marketing professional and community advocate. She has also developed educational programs supporting Indigenous youth and has represented student-athletes at the provincial level.
Her exceptional organizational skills and commitment to community make her an ideal fit for this important role.
Aadi Kaur, Administrative Coordinator
Supporting the Festival's administrative operations is Aadi Kaur, a Bachelor of Applied Music student at Vancouver Community College whose attention to detail and organizational skills help keep everything running smoothly.
Aadi has experience working in performing arts venues, event support and administrative coordination. Through her work at Douglas College, she gained valuable experience assisting audiences, managing event logistics and maintaining complex records and databases.
As a musician herself, experienced in songwriting and performance, Aadi also brings an understanding of artists' and performers' needs.
Together, these five talented individuals represent the next generation of leaders, event professionals and creative community builders.
Whether coordinating volunteers, supporting artists, managing logistics or helping create memorable experiences for audiences, their work will be felt throughout the Festival!
It takes an incredible community to make the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival possible. If you'd like to get involved, we invite you to explore our volunteer and sponsorship opportunities and help us create another unforgettable Festival experience this summer!
We are very thankful for the support of the Canada Summer Jobs program, which allows us to welcome talented young people to our team each summer. Beyond helping us deliver an exceptional Festival experience, the program provides valuable hands-on experience, mentorship and professional development opportunities.