Major Career Move
Jazz Vocal Alumni Tanja Pannier Appointed Professor
She laid the musical foundation for her current success while studying jazz vocal performance in Weimar: Today, Tanja Pannier pursues a multifaceted career as a singer, composer, arranger, and vocal teacher. In October, she took the next impressive step in her career by assuming the professorship in vocal performance (popular music) at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Frankfurt.
Tanja Pannier looks back on her time in Weimar with gratitude: “My time as a student at the FRANZ LISZT University of Music in Weimar had a lasting impact on me, both artistically and personally. There, I not only received a solid musical and pedagogical education, but also experienced a space full of possibilities, inspiration, and artistic freedom, where I could experiment, grow, and develop my own musical language.”
She found the individual support and the encouragement to pursue her own artistic path particularly valuable. The musical inspiration and personal support she received from her voice professor, Jeff Cascaro, have stayed with her far beyond her studies.
For Jeff Cascaro, the appointment of his former student is a testament to the successful work of the Weimar Jazz Department and its significance for the German jazz scene. The professorship is “absolutely well-deserved!” and demonstrates how well the Jazz Institute “combines artistic excellence with pedagogical competence in teaching.”
Tanja Pannier grew up in Halle (Saale) and, after her time in Weimar, continued her studies at the Berlin University of the Arts. In 2008, she released her first solo album, “Invisible”. As a singer, concert tours and artistic projects have taken her to Sweden, Hungary, Canada, Korea, Taiwan, and China, among other places. She is a founding member and musical director of the internationally acclaimed a cappella ensemble Klangbezirk, with which she has released numerous albums.
In addition to her work as a singer, Tanja Pannier is active as a composer and arranger. Since 2013, she has been composing and arranging for theater productions and has served as musical director at venues including the GRIPS Theater Berlin and the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus.
Another focus of her work is the education and promotion of jazz and popular music. As a lecturer and workshop leader, she works nationally and internationally with singers, ensembles, and choirs. In her university teaching, she has developed numerous new teaching and concert formats. Working with vocal ensembles is an integral part of her teaching profile.
[October 21, 2026]