Jason Michael Saunders was born in 1989 and was raised in the Portland, Oregon area. He is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Choral Music at the University of Southern California. In 2011 he graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree with a Secondary Choral emphasis. His choral compositions have been performed by ensembles across the country, and in Europe.

Saunders has won composition awards from several choral ensembles, and in 2012 placed second nationally in the choral composition division of The American Prize (student category). Saunders has composed since the age of 16, and has conducted the premiere performances of many of his works. He twice held the role of Assistant Conductor of the University Men’s Chorus under Dr. Brian Galante, and served as a section leader in PLU’s Choir of the West and University Chorale. At Pacific Lutheran, Saunders studied composition with Dr. Gregory Youtz and choral conducting with Dr. Richard Nance. His works are available from Santa Barbara Music Publishing and Colla Voce.