Vanessa Perica is a composer and arranger based in Melbourne, Australia. Originally hailing from Perth, Vanessa majored in Jazz Composition and Arranging at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Upon completion of her Bachelor degree in 2003, she was awarded the prestigious Bob Wyllie Scholarship for ‘most outstanding graduating jazz student’. Other recipients of this honour include Mat Jodrell, Linda May Han Oh, Troy Roberts and Ben Vanderwal.
Recent career highlights include performances at the Perth and Sydney Con International Jazz Festivals, and placing as a finalist in the 2018 Anonimus Big Band International Composition Competition held in Buenos Aires. She is also a finalist in the 2020 ‘Scrivere in Jazz’ International Composition Competition. The finals of the 16th edition will be held in Sardinia, Italy this September.
In 2019, Vanessa recorded her debut album with the assistance of an Australia Council grant. Love Is a Temporary Madness’ by the Vanessa Perica Orchestra features an all-star lineup including Andrea Keller, Julien Wilson, Jamie Oehlers, Mat Jodrell, Carl Mackey, Jordan Murray, Sam Anning, Ross Irwin, Paul Williamson and Ben Vanderwal. The album was released in February 2020 to critical acclaim, reaching as high as number 3 on the ARIA Jazz and Blues charts and number 1 on the AIR Independent charts.
Vanessa Perica has come to public attention with the release of a recording of her compositions by a superb jazz big band. This article describes her view of her musical world.
