Soprano VanNessa Hulme has been hailed internationally and at home for her uniqueness and ability to sing all genres of music, from classical to musical theater. Her focused, warm vocal quality, with both power and agility, consistently compliments her musicianship and stage presence. As a versatile performer, VanNessa has found herself performing both opera and musical theater, ranging from the ingénue to the villain, as well as oratorio. Performances include: Rapunzel (Into the Woods), Edith (Pirates of Penzance), Haydn’s Missa sancti Nicolai, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Fiordiligi (Cosi fan tutte), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), The Witch (Hansel and Gretel), Mrs. Gobineau (The Medium), Lady Billows (Albert Herring) and Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus). Most recently, VanNessa fulfilled a lifelong dream of playing the title role in Tosca, with Center Stage Opera. In 2008, VanNessa was seen with Pomona Orchestra singing the role of Brunnhide, from Wagner’s Die Walkure. Later that year, VanNessa was asked to return to sing the soprano solos in Orff’s Carmina Burana. In the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions she was a Western Regional Finalist for two consecutive years, 2003 and 2004, and again in 2007. In 2003, VanNessa was the Winner of the Llangollen Eisteddfodd Music Festival Music Theater Competition and a finalist in the same location’s Opera Competition. She was honored to sing at the event’s Final Concert, which was televised on the BBC. During 2004, VanNessa was delighted to be asked to sing with Frederica von Stade in her Los Angeles “Frederica and Friends” concert. Later that year, she debuted with Lyric Opera of Los Angeles in their West Coast Premiere of Pauline Viardot’s little known gem, Cendrillon. VanNessa traveled to Eureka Springs, Arkansas during the summer of 2004, to sing in the American Premiere of Einojuhani Rautavaara’s Finnish opera, The House of the Sun. VanNessa received formal training during her undergraduate years at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. She was awarded a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice in 2001. In May of 2006, she was awarded a Master of Music degree in Voice from California State University, Northridge. VanNessa’s future engagements include the lead role in Lyric Opera of Los Angeles’ production of Wagner’s Die Feen and Verdi Chorus’ spring concerts, which are both in conjunction with Los Angeles Opera’s 2010 Wagner Festival. She will also be seen in a chamber production of Old Maid and The Thief (Menotti) and a solo recital in Los Angeles.

For more info, check out Ms. Hulme’s website at
www.myspace.com/vannessahulmesoprano.