A young artist of the 2019 Bayreuth Festival Masterclass in Germany and semi-finalist of the 2018 Richard Wagner International Singing Competition at Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, she has performed the roles of  Sieglinde (Die Walküre), Freia (Das Rheingold) and Gutrune (Götterdämmerung) where she received glowing reviews. In the 2022 season, Vanessa sang her premier performance of Chrysothemis in Strauss´s Elektra in Toronto, Canada and repeated this role in June, 2023 with MusikfürMusik Berlin, Germany, where she also made her debut performances as Senta (Der fliegende Holländer - May, 2023 ), Ariadne/Primadonna (Ariadne auf Naxos - December, 2023) and the title role of Salome (March, 2024).

Performances planned with MusikfürMusik for the 2024/2025 season include a revival of the role of Chrysothemis in Strauss’ Elektra with conductor Thomas Hennig and Nella in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi. Vanessa is currently also preparing the roles of Brunnhilde in Wagner’s Siegfried and Marie in Berg’s Wozzeck for future projects.

Born in Toronto, Canada and of German heritage, Vanessa studied at York University, Canada where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in music and theatre production. Vanessa went on the complete a masters degree at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London (Music Performance with Distinction). She received an additional masters degree in Opera Performance from the Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität, Vienna, Austria, has been a member of the distinguished Bayreuth Festival Chorus and is a laureate artist of the Flanders Opera Studio, Belgium. 

Vanessa began her career singing contemporary and 20th century music. She was the winner of the Tracey Chadwell Memorial Prize at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, finalist in the Patricia Routledge English Song Competition and the third place winner of the prestigious Canada Council sponsored Eckhardt-Gramattée Competition. She went on the perform works by several contemporary composers. She also showed a particular passion and affinity for German repertoire. She was selected to sing in the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme and worked with Roger Vignoles and Dame Ann Murray (sponsored by the Canadian Aldeburgh Foundation). Soonafter, she made her first professional role debut as Agathe  in C. M. von Weber’s Der Freischütz in Germany which then led to her exploring the repertoire of Strauss and Wagner.

As founder and Executive Director of MusikfürMusik gUG she unites artists with a shared passion for music. The collective’s mission is to develop, prepare, and perform music that not only inspires artists but also resonates deeply with audiences. She believes in the power of a nurturing and collaborative environment, where top-tier artists have the freedom to create innovated and engaging performances and invite new and younger audiences to enjoy opera.

To learn more about MusikfürMusik gUG, visit: www.musikfuermusik.com