Vanessa Perica

Vanessa Perica is a composer and conductor based in Melbourne, Australia. 

Upon completion of her Bachelor degree in 2003 at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, she was awarded the prestigious Bob Wyllie Scholarship for ‘Most Outstanding Graduating Jazz Student.’ Other recipients of this honour include Linda May Han Oh, Mat Jodrell, Ben Vanderwal and Troy Roberts.

Recent career highlights include both national and international recognition. She was a finalist in both the Anonimus Big Band (2018) and ‘Scrivere in Jazz’ International Composition Competitions (2020). She has also appeared at the Sydney, Melbourne and Perth International Jazz Festivals. 

In 2019, Vanessa was a recipient of an Australia Council grant to record her debut album with an all-star lineup including Andrea Keller, Julien Wilson, Sam Anning, Mat Jodrell, Ben Vanderwal, Jordan Murray, Carl Mackey, Paul Williamson and Jamie Oehlers. Released in February 2020, the album titled ‘Love is a Temporary Madness’ has been critically acclaimed, reaching number 1 on the AIR Independent charts, and number 3 on the ARIA Jazz & Blues charts.

The album was a nominee in the Australian Music Prize and AIR Awards, and won ‘Best Jazz Album’ at the 2020 Music Victoria Awards.

In February 2021, Vanessa was commissioned by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to write the ‘Love is a Temporary Madness’ Symphonic Suite. This was premiered by the MSO and Vanessa Perica Orchestra, and conducted by Benjamin Northey at the iconic Sidney Myer Music Bowl. 

In November of the same year, the Vanessa Perica Orchestra joined forces once again with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for the Melbourne International Jazz Festival’s Opening Night Gala at Hamer Hall. Featuring vocalists Kate Ceberano, Michelle Nicolle, Thando, Eddie Perfect and more, they performed compositions and arrangements by Vanessa and Chris Crenshaw (Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York).

Most recently, Vanessa was a winner in the 2021 APRA Art Music Awards and Australian Jazz Bell Awards, and was a finalist in the 2022 Australian Women in Music Awards. Her composition was also a 2022 APRA Art Music Awards finalist for ‘Jazz Performance of the Year’ for her orchestra’s collaboration with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. 

She is the conductor for the Ministry of Sound Classical Australia/NZ National Tour.

Vanessa Perica is a Yamaha artist.

…there's "a new sheriff in town," she's packing heat, and you'd best listen carefully to what she has to say.” 4.5 stars - Jack Bowers, All About Jazz

“…She is a big talent — still under-the-radar, but probably not for much longer.” - Ted Gioia https://www.vanessaperica.com

Awards

• Bob Wyllie Scholarship - 'Most Outstanding Graduating Student' at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (2003).
• Finalist in the Anonimus Big Band International Composition Competition (2018).
• Finalist in the 'Scrivere in Jazz' International Composition Competition (2020).
• Winner 'Best Jazz Album' in the Music Victoria Awards (2020).
• Winner APRA Art Music Awards for Work of the Year: Jazz (2021).
• Nominee in AIR Independent Awards for Best Jazz Album (2021).
• Nominee in the prestigious Australian Music Prize (2020).
• Finalist in the Australian Women in Music Awards for 'Emerging Talent' (2021).
• Finalist in the Australian Jazz Bell Awards for Best Produced Album, and Work of the Year. (2022)
• Named in Australia's best albums of 2020 in The Guardian.
• Winner Society of Composers 2022 Large Ensemble Compostion Competition for 'Woody's Lament'.
• Finalist in the 2023 APRA Art Music Awards - Work of the Year Jazz for 'Hill of Grace'

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