Dr. Marianne Saunders
Marianne Saunders, (part-time) Associate Professor of Voice; B.A., M.M., Central Washington University; M.M., D.M.A., Eastman School of Music. Vocal jazz ensemble. Director and founder of the The College of Idaho Vocal Jazz Festival.
Originally from the Seattle area, Dr. Saunders came to The College of Idaho in 1993 from Rochester, N.Y. where she studied at the prestigious Eastman School of Music. There she acquired a Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree in Vocal Performance and Literature and a Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance. She also holds a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy with a concentration in Jazz and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from Central Washington University.
Dr. Saunders is a two-time winner and regional finalist of the New York Metropolitan Opera Auditions. She has been selected three times to sing for masterclasses with the highly acclaimed vocal pedagogue, Richard Miller. A mezzo-soprano, she has performed extensively on the east coast in recitals and operas in such roles as "Prince Orlofsky" in Die Fledermaus, the "Secretary" in the Consul and "Mrs. Herring" in Albert Herring to rave reviews. As an oratorio soloist she has sung many performances of Handel's Messiah, Vivaldi's Gloria, Bach's Magnificat, Mozart's Coronation Mass, and others. Her Symphonic performances include Mahler's Symphony No. 2. Dr. Saunders has performed as a soloist with the Boise Master Chorale and gives frequent performances with Opera Idaho as a member of their resident company.
Dr. Saunders has been involved with the vocal jazz idiom for over 20 years. She has directed groups at Central Washington University and the Eastman School of Music before she started the The College of Idaho Vocal Jazz Ensemble. She is in great demand as a clinician and adjudicator and she regularly adjudicates jazz festivals throughout the Pacific Northwest. She has performed in Jazz Ensembles and as a solo artist with jazz legends and celebrities as Bob Hope, Dizzy Gillespie, The Nelson Riddle Jazz Orchestra, Mark Murphy, Carmen McCrae, Bobby McFerrin, Take Six and others. She also performed extensively on the East Coast with her own group "Giant Steps". In April 2002, she appeared with the group, Fifth Avenue, at Boise's Gene Harris Jazz Festival.