Amanda Taylor

Amanda Taylor is a two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, specializing in creating music for vocal ensembles. Pentatonix founder & producer Ben Bram says, “Amanda’s arrangements are absolutely stunning. She has the magical ability to create works that are so dazzling and complex, yet still satisfyingly singable, tasteful, and accessible to all listeners.” 

A Seattle native, Taylor grew up in some of the city’s most prestigious ensembles; Seattle Youth Symphony, Vocalpoint! Seattle, and the Seattle Girls’ Choir. It was in these ensembles that Taylor developed a deep love for harmony & vocal writing. She spent her years as a young musician transcribing, multi-tracking her favorite choral pieces, and composing & arranging her own music. At 16, she joined Seattle-based jazz ensemble Groove for Thought as their lead soprano, and quickly began learning to write for contemporary a cappella & vocal jazz. Shortly after joining the ensemble, Groove for Thought appeared on NBC’s, “The Sing-Off” (2010), where some of Taylor’s first vocal arrangements premiered. 

The same year, Taylor attended Central Washington University to study music composition. Over the course of her studies, she strayed from traditional composition in favor of contemporary arranging and songwriting. She began exploring more collaborative opportunities, and began performing her own music locallys. After receiving her Composition degree (2013), Taylor moved to Nashville in search of a new creative experience. She spent two years in Tennessee, doing studio work, bartending, and collaborating with new friends. In 2015, she released her first self-produced EP, “Little Hearts, Big Words”. 

Since her time in Nashville, Taylor has travelled the U.S. to teach and write. Her previous faculty positions include A Cappella Academy (LA), Mount Si High School (WA) Bellevue College (WA), Northwest College (WY), & the University of Southern California (CA). An active performer and clinician internationally, her recent appearances as a guest clinician or performer include festivals in California, Oregon, Washington, Oklahoma, Alaska, & British Columbia. She has also served as the guest conductor for All-State & Honor Vocal Jazz Ensembles for Wyoming, Nebraska, BCMEA, NWACDA, and ILMEA. As of 2025, she has relocated to the Boston area.

Her most recent vocal project is in collaboration with artists Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick, & Erin Bentlage, in the form of “vocal supergroup” säje. After debuting an inspiring and energized set at the 2020 Jazz Education Network Conference in New Orleans in January 2020, säje went on to tour multiple jazz festivals and clubs from January to March. During quarantine, säje received their first GRAMMY® nomination for their first composition “Desert Song”, in the Best Arrangement Instruments and Vocals category. They also received the John Lennon Songwriting Contest Grand Prize Award for their second composition “Wisteria”, as well as their first Jazz Journalists Association Award Nomination for “Best Vocal Jazz Group”. After the release of their self-titled debut album, they received a GRAMMY® Award for their collaboration with sensational musician Jacob Collier, in the Best Arrangement Instruments and Vocals category. In 2024, Taylor received three new GRAMMY® nominations, both with säje and without; in 2025, she received her second GRAMMY® Award for säje original composition, “Alma”. 

Taylor is a frequent guest clinician and adjudicator at various jazz festivals, and continues to arrange for both scholastic and professional vocal ensembles (The Manhattan Transfer, Chanticleer, Kings Return, Scott Hoying of Pentatonix). She is an active composer/arranger, private teacher & studio singer (World of Warcraft, Diablo III, Destiny, Shadow of Mordor, DOTA, and more). As of 2025, she has relocated to the Boston area.