Vanessa Croome
Vanessa Croome is a critically acclaimed soprano and producer signed to Canada's premiere classical label, ATMA Classique. She co-founded Duo Étrange in 2023 with cellist Sahara von Hattenberger — an ensemble dedicated to the creation and performance of new works for voice and cello hailed as “redefining vocal chamber music” (PANM 360) and winners of the 2025 New Music USA Creator Fund. Their début album, featuring works by celebrated composers including Nicole Lizée, will be released in 2026 alongside a début at Salle Bourgie. Known for her work in both classical and contemporary music, Vanessa is an alumna of the Santa Fe Opera, Opéra de Montréal, Oberlin Conservatory, and McGill University. In 2024 and 2025 Vanessa was recognized as one of Montreal's Top 50 Women Leaders for her work creating new classical music.
Recent and upcoming engagements include a vocal fellowship with Bang on a Can at MASS MoCA and performances at Loud Weekend with multiple world premieres and works by David Lang, Julia Wolfe, Michael Gordon, and Gemma Peacocke; VERY FERAL TODAY — a new theatre piece for voice and cello (Duo Étrange / Shields / Oliva); Cendrillon (Noémie) with Opéra du Royaume; artistic residencies with Avaloch Farm Music Institute and Le Vivier; recital débuts with Salle Bourgie, Opéra du Royaume, and Chapelle Historique du Bon Pasteur; a new co-creation with the Société d'Art Technologique and Opéra de Montréal — La Vie, La Mort, Le Dessert; The Magic Flute (Queen of the Night, Jacksonville Symphony); Königin der Nacht (Kosky's Die Zauberflöte, Opéra de Montréal); soloist (M. Butterfly, world premiere, Santa Fe Opera); Léa (L'hiver attend beaucoup de moi, world premiere, Opéra de Montréal); La Folie (Platée, Orchestre de l'Agora); and concert debuts with l'Orchestre Métropolitain and l'Orchestre Symphonique de Drummondville, alongside critically acclaimed recital debuts at the Chapelle Historique du Bon-Pasteur and L'Association des Arts et Culture dans les Hautes Vosges, France.
“Striking performance by Vanessa Croome… A fluid, ethereal soprano with vigour and brilliant high notes, capable of convincing descents into mezzo territory… A remarkable ease in evoking emotion, and an undeniable authenticity. Attention to the artistic directors of the country, take notice!”
— Frédéric Cardin (PANM360, Salle Bourgie)
In 2023, Vanessa co-founded the voice and cello group Duo Étrange with cellist Sahara von Hattenberger. Their 2026 début album with ATMA Classique was supported by a $50,000 award from the Canada Council for the Arts and features multiple world premieres from composers Nicole Lizée, Airat Ichmouratov, Laurence Jobidon, and Jeffrey Fong, alongside works from Luna Pearl Woolf, Anders Hillborg, and Maya Fridman. Rising stars in contemporary music and winners of the 2025 New Music USA Creator Fund, upcoming featured engagements include Salle Bourgie, Avaloch Farm Music Institute, Opéra du Royaume, Le Vivier, and Montreal's historic concert series at Chapelle Historique du Bon Pasteur. Recent engagements include a coveted spot on the 2024-2025 Le Vivier Pôle Relève and artistic residencies with Yellow Barn and Avaloch Farm developing an original arrangement of Ligeti's Mysteries of the Macabre in collaboration with composer Jeffrey Fong. The Duo's upcoming commission supported by New Music USA will feature a new song collection by composer Kebra Seyoun-Charles.
A graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and McGill University, Vanessa received young artist training with Opéra de Montréal, the Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and the Staatstheater Augsburg. A winner of the Opéra de Montréal Prix Étoile Stingray, Vanessa was a finalist for the Canadian Opera Company Centre Stage Competition and the McGill University Elizabeth Wirth Vocal Prize, as well as a semi-finalist for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Competition, a two-time winner of the Francis Poulenc Foundation Award, and a 2020 and 2023 laureat of Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques with Théâtre Lyrichorégra.
