Vanessa Perica is an Australian composer, arranger and conductor. She is based in Melbourne. Vanessa Perica, originally from Perth studied Jazz Composition and Arranging at West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. After completing her Bachelor’s degree, she was awarded the Bob Wyllie Scholarship as ‘Most Outstanding Graduating Student in Jazz Composition and Arranging’. Her mentor was the legendary Graeme Lyall Am. Recent highlights in her career include international and national recognition. Vanessa led the Perth Jazz Society Big Band through a series of original compositions she composed at the 2015 Perth International Jazz Festival. 2018 was the finalist in the Anonimus Big Band International Composition Competition. Her composition, “Dance of the Zinfandels”, was one of the finalists. It was selected by Guillermo Klein and performed in front of a jury from Argentina in Buenos Aires. Vanessa’s compositions were performed by the Sydney Conservatorium Jazz Orchestra under her direction at the Sydney Con International Jazz Festival in June 2019. Vanessa received an Australia Council grant in the same year to record her debut album. The Vanessa Perica Orchestra (VPO), features an all-star line-up including Julien Wilson and Mat Jodrell as well as Jamie Oehlers and Andrea Keller. The album titled ‘Love is a Temporary madness’ was recorded in January 2019. Vanessa was also the director of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Big Band last year. Her composition, “Scar for Charlie”, was to be the Division 1-Test Piece for Generations in Jazz Mount Gambier in 2020. from www.vanessaperica.com
