Marion Powers
2026-2027 Treble Jazz
Marion Powers is an award-winning jazz vocalist and educator whose dynamic improvisation, modern arranging style, and sensitive songwriting have earned her recognition nationwide. She is deeply inspired by legendary jazz vocalists such as Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae, and Sarah Vaughan. Her artistry has been shaped through mentorships and collaborations with artists such as Christian McBride, Dianne Reeves, Marshall Gilkes, Johnaye Kendrick, and Melissa Aldana.
Marion holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in jazz performance from the University of North Texas, where she studied with acclaimed vocalists and educators Rosana Eckert and Jennifer Barnes. As a student she served as lead vocalist and toured with the Grammy-nominated One O’clock Lab Band. Her selection as the featured vocalist for the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Academy Big Band in 2018 led to her mentorship with McBride and Reeves. She was selected as a member of the Jazz Education Network’s Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Quintet in 2019, where she worked closely with pianist Ellen Rowe and baritone saxophonist Claire Daly.
After completing her master’s degree where she served as a full-time teaching fellow, Marion accepted a faculty position in the UNT vocal jazz department. In 2021, she joined the faculty at the University of Northern Colorado. Across both schools she directed award-winning ensembles, including UNT’s Avenue C and UNC’s Vocal Lab, and The Northern Colorado Voices. Marion’s work directing these ensembles has been recognized by DownBeat Magazine, with her students winning multiple DownBeat awards as soloists as well. Marion’s groups have received invitations to festivals and conferences including the Telluride Jazz Festival (2025) and the Jazz Education Network Conference in New Orleans (2026). These successes come from a core teaching philosophy that equips students not just for the concert stage, but to work in any professional performance setting.
She has since returned to the DFW area to focus on her own artistic projects and a growing private voice studio. Marion performs regularly with her band and records on a variety of projects with musicians across the country.