Beginning in middle school as accompanist for the middle school choir and continuing through collegiate and career pursuits, choral music has been a central and influential part of Saundra Bishop’s musical journey. She is eager and extremely excited to continue that journey with the choirs of CoroRio.

Saundra attended the University of Alabama and received the bachelor of music degree in piano performance. She then studied chamber music and piano at the University of Southern Mississippi while pursuing a bachelor of science degree in paralegal studies. She graduated from Louisiana State University with a master of music degree in piano performance and received the doctor of arts degree in piano pedagogy from the University of Mississippi.

For over 20 years, Saundra was on the faculty at Northwest Mississippi Community College. There, she was collaborative pianist for the collegiate choirs. She performed regularly with fine arts colleagues in faculty performances, coached and accompanied fine arts students in student recitals and performances, and was music director for several musical theatre productions, most notably Calvin Berger, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, and The Spitfire Grill. Additionally, she taught piano and music theory courses and was the director of Northwest's pop a cappella vocal ensemble. Working with that ensemble throughout the years was one of the most rewarding aspects of her teaching career.

Prior to her time at Northwest, Saundra taught general music and middle school choir at Batesville, MS, elementary and middle schools. A long-time resident of Oxford, Saundra maintains an active collaborative piano schedule largely in the north Mississippi area. Currently, she serves as music associate/pianist with First Baptist Church in Oxford and performs regularly with the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra in Tupelo.