VANESSA SCHUKIS

Ms. Schukis has had a multi-faceted career as a character mezzo, actress, stage director, choreographer, vocal coach, educator and administrator. She has sung a wide variety of operatic, oratorio and broadway repertoire to great critical acclaim and has performed roles with the Boston National Company of Nunsense starring Pat Carroll and Alice Ghostley, Boston Lyric Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Opera Providence, New England Light Opera, Intermezzo Chamber Opera, Raylynmoor Opera, Wheelock Family Theater; Lyric Stage Company of Boston; New Opera and Musical Theater Initiative, Opera New England, Longwood Opera Company, Northeastern Repertory Theater, Boston Publick Theater, Stoneham Theater, Old North Chamber Orchestra, Weymouth Fine Arts Chorale, Rivers Symphony Orchestra and Newton Symphony.

Ms. Schukis has been a soloist/section leader for the historic Old North Church, Boston, Massachusetts for 25 years and a soloist/cantor for 13 years at St. Paul Church in Wellesley, Massachusetts and continues to perform in theater, opera and concert engagements throughout the United States. Special performances that deserve mentioning are: National Anthem and “God Bless America” at a Boston Red Sox Game at Fenway, National Anthem on the U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides) turn around, National Anthem at New England Dragway, Epping, NH and the National Anthem at Lebanon Valley Speedway, MA and a televised performance with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Salt Lake City, UT.

In addition to being a performer, Vanessa is an award winning teacher with over thirty years experience in performing arts education focusing on students with learning disabilities and special needs. Currently Vanessa teaches music at The Murphy School and Lee Academy Pilot School in Dorchester, MA through the outreach program of The Community Music Center of Boston. Vanessa has been a member of the guest faculty at New England Conservatory, Boston, MA and visiting faculty at Longy School of Music Cambridge, MA.

 
 
UFOMT PAST SEASONS |

2012	Mrs. Higgins, My Fair Lady
	Hattie, Kiss Me Kate
2011	Widow Corney, Oliver!
	The Innkeeper, Boris Godunov
2010	Frau Schmidt, The Sound of Music
	General Cartwright, Guys & Dolls
2009	Mamma Lucia, Cavalleria Rusticana
	Katisha, The Mikado
2008	Jack's Mother, Into the Woods
	Mazeppa, Gypsy
2007	Parthy Ann, Show Boat
	Marie, The Most Happy Fella
2006	Mrs. Paroo, The Music Man
	Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro
2005	Dolly Tate, Annie Get Your Gun
2003	Miss Gulch / Wicked Witch, The Wizard of Oz
	Fruma-Sarah, Fiddler on the Roof
2002	Clementina, Desert Song
	Sister Margaretta, The Sound of Music
2001	Mrs. McLean, Susannah