Seattle-area native Courtney Cutchins is a vocalist, composer and lyricist specializing in modern jazz styles, alternative rock and improvisational artistry. Her anticipated debut album, “Grunge to Grace,” is an epic, genre-bending fusion calling the listener to live in their most luminous, authentic self. As a clinician and vocal coach, Courtney founded her award-winning, international coaching studio in 2018, Seadragon Songhouse, and enjoys working with clients on empowering their beautiful voices and creativity.

In 2016, she earned a Master of Music degree in Jazz Vocal Performance from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music in New York City where she worked with with Grammy-nominated vocalists Gretchen Parlato, Theo Bleckmann and Kate McGarry. She’s also studied composition with Jim McNeely, Dave Liebman, Phil Markowitz, Jim Pugh and Jim Knapp.

She’s been a performer since 2009 and has shared her music nationally at venues and festivals from coast to coast, including: Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Earshot Jazz Festival, Rockwood Music Hall, Cornelia Street Cafe, Silvana, Columbia University, Poncho Concert Hall, Tula’s Jazz Club, Boxley’s, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Ades Performance Space and more. In 2015, she held a monthly residency at NYC’s legendary 55 Bar with the Vinyl Live series.

In 2009, she graduated summa cum laude from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington where she received the Welland-Jordan scholarship, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Vocal Performance. She was later invited to sing and arrange as a member of the esteemed Jim Knapp Orchestra which performed regularly at the Seattle Drum Club. Jim once described her as “a brilliant composer and arranger and one of the best improvising singers on the Northwest scene.” In 2010, she was a finalist in the Atlanta Jazz Festival’s “Ultimate Score” contest, and in 2011, she was a finalist in the Seattle-Kobe Female Jazz Vocalist Competition.

For nearly a decade, Courtney was instrumental in the development of JazzClubsNW, a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring future generations of jazz musicians throughout the Pacific Northwest. She was the creator and host of JazzClubsNW’s popular “Vox at the Box” vocal jam series. She was also the voice mentor for the area’s weekly, high school vocal jazz labs – and later worked as the jazz choir interim director. Additionally, she coordinated numerous marketing campaigns, jazz & blues festivals, jazz camps and other special events which established relationships with nearly 100 local businesses and raised substantial funds, exceeding goals for the organization.

She’s currently based between New York City and the Greater Savannah area.