Acclaimed vocalist known for her five-octave range and endless versatility
Lawrencian Vanessa Thomas is a popular vocalist and performs regularly throughout the country, delighting audiences everywhere she is heard. Thomas is known for her seamless span of five octaves as well as her unique versatility and command of a variety of musical genres, including opera, traditional choral masterworks, jazz, blues, gospel and musical theatre.
This event will serve as an album release concert for her first recording as a leader! The concert and recording will feature Roger Wilder, piano, Eric Hitt, bass, John Kizilarmut, drums and Matt Otto, tenor saxophone. The recording sessions took place on August 24 and 26, 2022 on the Lied Center stage.
Thomas performs regularly with Grammy Award-winning trumpet virtuoso Doc Severinsen, and she has shared the stage with other notable musicians, including Ernie Watts, Ed Shaughnessy, Mike Metheny, Wayne Bergeron and Byron Stripling. Thomas has sung under the baton of James Conlon, John Morris Russell, Julius Rudel and Robert Spano, and she has worked with arrangers Dick Lieb, Adi Yeshaya, Alan Baylock and Jay Chattaway.
Performance credits include the lead role in the world premiere of John Brown by Kirke Mechem and appearances with Lyric Opera Express of Kansas City. In addition, Thomas was seen recently performing with Doc Severinsen and his Big Band at the Hollywood Bowl. She has also performed with the Cincinnati Pops, Ft. Worth Symphony, Utah Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Alabama Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic and Winston Salem Symphony.
