Professional Background :
Vanessa Sielert is Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho. Before moving to Moscow, she was living in the Seattle area with her husband, Vern. There she kept a busy schedule performing professionally and teaching instrumental music at Bonney Lake High School in Sumner, Washington. She has served as professor of saxophone on the faculties of Pacific Lutheran University, Seattle Pacific University and the University of Southern Illinois.

Vanessa 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 from the University of Illinois. She has studied saxophone with Robert Miller, Michael Jacobson, and Debra Richtmeyer.

Vanessa has performed with a wide range of performing groups including the Emerald City Jazz Orchestra, the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, the Federal Way Symphony, Orchestra Seattle, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. As a member of the Millennium Saxophone Quartet, she was a medal winner at the prestigious Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. She has performed as a soloist and quartet member at conferences of the North American Saxophone Alliance and at meetings of the World Saxophone Congress in Minneapolis and Montreal.