Vanessa Sielert

Vanessa Sielert is Professor of Saxophone at the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho, where she also serves as Education Advisor for the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. She served as Director of the Lionel Hampton School of Music from 2017-2023 and Associate Director for Recruitment from 2014-2017. Her current duties include teaching the saxophone studio, jazz band and a general improvisation course. Previously, Sielert served on the faculties of Pacific Lutheran University, Seattle Pacific University, St. Martin's College and Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. She received a Bachelor of Music in music education and saxophone performance from the University of Idaho, a Master of Music in saxophone performance from Baylor University and a Doctor of Musical Arts in saxophone performance and pedagogy from the University of Illinois. She has studied saxophone with Robert Miller, Michael Jacobson and Debra Richtmeyer. Sielert has performed with a wide range of ensembles including the Palouse Jazz Project, the Bob Curnow Big Band, Symphony Tacoma and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. As a member of the Millennium Saxophone Quartet, she was a medal winner at the prestigious Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. She has been featured on numerous jazz and classical recordings and released a duo album with pianist Catherine Anderson entitled "duality" in November of 2020, comprised of commissioned compositions and arrangements. Recordings of two additional newly commissioned works by Dan Cavanagh and David Faleris will be released in the fall of 2023.