Amanda Waites

Lecturer, Musical Theatre Applied Voice

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Contact Information
ann034@shsu.edu
(936) 294-2323
(936) 294-3898
PAC 284 C

Amanda N. Waites is a professional singer and voice teacher with over 25 years of experience in the musical arts. Her roots are Cajun, and her soul is southern, born and raised in south Louisiana. She is a faculty member at Sam Houston State University in the Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre, serves as voice faculty for Lone Star College-Montgomery Music Department and sings in local and regional venues along the Gulf Coast. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Loyola University and a Master of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from Tulane University.

Mrs. Waites is an accomplished performer in many styles including classical, musical theatre, jazz, rhythm and blues, and pop/rock. She is a founding member for the jazz vocal trio Swing Set. She is enthusiastic about the origins and roots of American speech, linguistics, singing traditions and their influence in vocal music. With this research, she has collaborated with such artists as blues pioneer Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and renowned New Orleans pianist Ronnie Kole. Mrs. Waites is a sought-after vocalist for recording studio projects. In 2015, Amanda was the featured vocalist on the debut gospel album titled “Journey Back” by composer/arranger Travis Tuer. Critic Justin Kreitzer of REVIEWYOU called her singing “soulful with powerful vocal delivery…like a 70s disco diva”. She has studied with/performed for distinguished musicians and entertainers in the music world including Bobby McFerrin, Seiji Ozawa, and Bob Hope.

As a teacher, Amanda’s students have enjoyed remarkable success in major music schools around the country, Off-Broadway productions, Broadway National Tours, Metropolitan Opera’s National Council Auditions, The Voice and even as a finalist in American Idol. Her students win National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) auditions and receive high marks at annual All State auditions. She is an active member and has served on the board as a Vice President for the Greater Houston NATS chapter. Currently, Amanda is engaged with The Woodlands Methodist Church for Gospel Hour with Spiritwind Band.