Melanie Shore - piano/keys
with Acoustic Soul (Joslyn Petty - vocals, Craig Poole - bass, Scott Miller - guitar, Joel Stevenett - drums)
with Melonius Funk (Kelly Eisenhour - vocals, Brian Booth - sax, Jim Stout - bass, Doug James - drums)
Influences
Bill Evans, Geoff Keezer, Earth Wind and Fire, Jamiroquai, Ben Folds, Tower of Power, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Fred Hersch, Stevie Wonder
Melanie Shore started playing the piano at the age of 3, and has been playing professionally since she was 15 years old. She began her classical training at the age of 5 and continued until she was 18, winning numerous awards for performing and composing. After high school, she relocated to Logan, Utah where she discovered jazz and studied jazz piano with Dr. Larry Smith at Utah State University.
After two years of playing with the USU Jazz Orchestra and Crestmark Orchestra in Logan, Melanie moved to Salt Lake City and attended the University of Utah where she studied with jazz pianist Steve Keen and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Composition in 2005. She has since received numerous jazz performance awards, including outstanding soloist at both the Reno and University of Northern Colorado jazz festivals. She also received an award for outstanding composer at the UNC Jazz Festival and was accepted into Stanford University’s Summer Jazz Program. Melanie was also recently commissioned by the 2008 Utah Arts Festival as a composer-in-residence, and her piece, "Wishful Thinking," was performed at the festival by the SLC Jazz Orchestra featuring Kelly Eisenhour.
In 2007, Melanie entered the vocal jazz scene as an arranger, and made her debut at the International Association for Jazz Education Convention in New York City with Kelly Eisenhour’s Jazz Voices. She has performed all over the United States and has played at Radio City Music Hall and on The Today Show with the world-renowned Rockettes. Melanie is known for her versatility, and in addition to her classical accompanying and jazz performing, she has played for the touring Broadway shows Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby, Hairspray, Mamma Mia, Spamalot and Sweet Charity in addition to numerous local productions. She is currently on tour with internationally acclaimed artist Collin Raye and can also be found in the popular music scene performing with neo-soul sensation Joslyn, as well as with the Brian Booth Ensembles, the Joe Muscolino Band, and the Saliva Sisters. One of her most visible accomplishments has been her involvement with the filming of Disney’s High School Musical, High School Musical 2, and High School Musical 3 as a piano hand double. Melanie is also active as a studio musician, teacher, accompanist, composer, and arranger and holds a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Utah where she is currently a member of the Jazz Piano Faculty.
Hi Mel! Just got back from vacation and saw your comment. It's great to hear from you and let's do go get some yummy "Pho" to celebrate good times in New York almost three years ago. Wow! Way to go on getting your Masters too!
We attended the concert at the Unitarian Church last night and it was great music. We are very happy we went, and we hope to go to more of your shows. Best wishes, John Wright
I am really looking forward to going to your graduation recital. I really respect people that love their art to the point of developing it to your level. John Wright
This is the HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH I am so excited! I love the tunes, the picture, the huge list of gigs. MEL!!! We can keep in contact now. This is the beginning of something beautiful. Meow meow thrilled meow! :D
You are going to die, but I am pregnant with our fifth. He is due in July...which makes gigging a bit challenging! So when are you done with school? It's a #$%^ isn't it? Sorry to hear about you being sick. Thanks for NEVER calling me back...YOU...We need to get together. Miss you A
Mel...lovely site and great music!! I'm the first comment!!! yipee How are things...how is life...don't hear much from you anymore...let me know what is happening in your world. A
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