Melanie Shore

Jazz Piano

Master of Music (Jazz Studies) - Unveristy of Utah

Bachelor of Music (Jazz Composition) - University of Utah

Melanie Shore holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Composition and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Utah.  She is known for her versatility on the piano and is active in the music community where she can be found performing everything from classical to pop to jazz. She has also established herself as a composer and arranger for studio work and live performance, and her works are comprised of pieces for solo jazz instruments, jazz combos, jazz orchestra, vocal jazz choir, and symphony. In 2008, Melanie was commissioned by the 2008 Utah Arts Festival as a composer-in-residence where her original piece, Wishful Thinking, was performed by the SLC Jazz Orchestra featuring jazz vocalist, Kelly Eisenhour. Melanie was also selected to debut an arrangement for vocal jazz choir by Brigham Young University’s Jazz Voices at the 2007 International Association for Jazz Education convention in New York City.

Melanie is one of the Intermountain West’s most sought after studio session musicians, and is frequently in the studio recording musical theatre, pop, funk, and jazz albums.  She is often found at Salt Lake City’s Capitol Theatre performing with national Broadway tours, some of which include Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby, Hairspray, Spamalot, Mamma Mia, and Sweet Charity. She was also fortunate to be a part of Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular in New York City in 2005. Melanie has also received numerous awards for her performances in jazz, including outstanding soloist at both the Reno and University of Northern Colorado jazz festivals, and outstanding composer at the UNC Jazz Festival.

In 2008, Melanie joined internationally-renowned pop/country artist, Collin Raye, and is currently on tour where she plays keyboard/Hammond B3 organ and holds the position of Music Director.  Her travels have taken her all over the United States, Europe, and Canada.  She has also performed on many nationally televised morning and talk shows, some of which include the CBS Early Show, The Today Show, The Mike and Juliet Show, and the Huckabee Show.  She has performed with such musical acts as Debby Boone, Restless Heart, and Teddy Gentry from the Grammy award-winning band, Alabama.  When not on the road, Melanie performs locally with The Joe Muscolino Band, The Saliva Sisters, Brian Booth Ensembles, and neo-soul sensation, Joslyn.

One of Melanie’s most visible accomplishments has been her involvement with all three installments of Disney’s High School Musical movie series, where she can be seen as a piano hand double. She is also highly involved in music education, and is an advocate of keeping music in public schools. She performs with fellow jazz musicians at assemblies throughout the state to promote awareness and excitement of the benefits of music, specifically jazz, to the students of the Wasatch front. Melanie is currently teaching privately at Wasatch Music Coaching Academy, The Piano Academy, and the University of Utah, where she is an Adjunct Assistant Professor on the jazz faculty.