biography

Dr. Lisanne Lyons is a jazz vocalist, pianist, guitarist, arranger, composer, clinician, adjudicator and conductor. Her career began immediately following high school as the featured vocalist (guitar/flute) for three Air Force bands (Norad Command Band, Travis Air Force Band of the Golden Gate, and the U.S. Force Academy “Falconaires”) During this time she performed throughout the US and Canada at various jazz festivals and major concert venues. Upon separation from the Air Force, she would attend the University of Miami School of Music and receive several DownBeat “Dee Bee” awards: two for Best Jazz Vocal soloist, one for Best Jazz Arrangement, and two "Dee Bee'" awards as director of UM's Extensions. She was also invited to be a featured performer with Joel Grey on the NBC televised Orange Bowl half-time show, “You’ll Get a Kick Out of Cole” on NBC. Cy Coleman also selected her to replace Monica Mancini for the national tour of his Tony award-winning “City of Angels”. 

After a year-long tour, Lisanne was asked to develop the first Jazz Vocal program at Virginia Polytechnic and State University (Virginia Tech). She would receive tenure and several DownBeat “Dee Bee” awards for Outstanding Performance for Large Jazz Vocal Ensemble, The New Virginians. During her tenure, the ensemble would perform three times as headliners at the VMEA conference, receive two consecutive invites to perform at IAJE, and one for the national MENC in Washington D.C. 

Lisanne has also performed with several big bands: Woody Herman Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau, Arturo Sandoval, Larry Elgart Big Band, University of Miami Concert Jazz Band, Michael Berkowitz -  Gene Krupa Tribute Band, Artie Shaw Orchestra, Harry James Orchestra, South Florida Jazz Orchestra, and XL Big Band in Sweden. She has also been a featured performer with several orchestras; Roanoke Symphony, Palm Beach Pops Symphony, Southwest Florida Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Ars Flores Symphony, Sunrise Pops Symphony, Las Olas Studio Orchestra, Sugar Pops, Broward Pops Orchestra, and Symphony of the Americas.

Lisanne has performed with many jazz luminaries such as: Maria Schneider, Bobby McFerrin, Mark Murphy, Jon Hendricks, Ed Calle, Duffy Jackson, Jim Pugh, Gary Burton, John Hart, Bucky Pizzarelli, Ken Peplowski, Brian Lynch, Harold Jones, Four Freshmen, and many others. She recorded two solo CD’s, “Right as the Rain," featuring the music of Harold Arlen and “Smile” with the John Toomey trio. She also recorded two CD's as lead soprano with the Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet and one CD with Mad Romance. 

In 2014, Lisanne was asked to develop the first-ever jazz vocal program for Florida International University. Within 10 years, the program has garnered 13 student DownBeat awards in several areas; Outstanding Jazz Vocal Soloist, Outstanding Graduate Jazz and Blues Vocal Soloist, Outstanding Graduate Small Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and Outstanding Undergraduate Large Vocal Jazz Ensemble. 

The ensembles have performed at the Jazz Educators Network, Florida Music Educators Conference, Pompano Jazz Festival, New World Symphony, Sugar Pops Orchestra, Hallendale Pops Orchestra, Miami Art Deco Festival, etc. After 11 years, she left FIU to pursue her performing career again.

Her new CD, “May I Come In”, will be released in the February of 2026 on OriginArts Records. The music is arranged by the renowned Mike Lewis and features some of the best jazz artists in South Florida.