Vanessa Sielert, D.M.A.

Professor of saxophone at the Lionel Hampton School of Music at University of Idaho, Vanessa Sielert, 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’s 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.

As a music administrator, Sielert led the Lionel Hampton School of Music for six years. During this time, she partnered the school with the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles as a Grammy Museum University Affiliate and started the Lionel Hampton/Grammy Museum Collective, a university student ensemble comprised of members from university affiliates. She also guided the department through major building renovations, completed in spring of 2023.