Vanessa Scammell
MEET
Vanessa Scammell is a conductor and musician who enjoys a diverse portfolio of work as a conductor of ballet, musical theatre, concert repertoire and opera.
Vanessa’s postgraduate study included a Masters in Conducting; she has been the recipient of the Brian Stacey Award and the Robert and Elizabeth Albert Conducting Fellowship for The Australian Ballet.
Find out more about Vanessa and her amazing list of performances.
upcoming performances
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert
Saturday, 2 November 2024, 3:00 pm
Saturday, 2 November 2024, 7:00 pm
Darling Harbour Theatre at ICC
Symphonic Cinema Presents Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert Live-to-Film featuring the contemporary holiday classic on the big screen in full symphonic glory with GRAMMY®-winning composer Danny Elfman’s musical score performed live to the film by The Sydney Lyric Orchestra. The concert will be led by conductor, Vanessa Scammell and performed at Darling Harbour Theatre on Saturday Nov 2.
Based on an original poem and characters created by Tim Burton, the film was first released as “The Nightmare Before Christmas” in 1993. Directed by Henry Selick (James and the Giant Peach), the film follows the earnest-but-misguided adventures of Jack Skellington, Halloween Town’s beloved Pumpkin King.
The Cat Empire with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra
Thursday, 5 December, 7:30 pm
Friday, 6 December, 7:30 pm
Saturday, 7 December, 2:00 pm
Perth Concert Hall
The legendary Australian band bring their beloved tunes and new sounds for an immersive orchestral experience with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.
Performing some exciting new material as well as The Cat Empire classics re-invented for the orchestral world, these performances will draw on the vibrant worlds of Afro-Cuban, Seychellois Kreol, Brazilian and flamenco music combined with the band’s unique sense of musical style.
Featuring world-class flamenco artists, experience The Cat Empire live with your State Orchestra. You’ll shimmy, shake and sing your way through the performance.
The Holiday in Concert Adelaide + Sydney + Perth
Darling Harbour Theatre, ICC, Sydney
Saturday, 14 December 2024, 3:00 pm
This Christmas experience ‘The Holiday’ – Film with Live Orchestra.
Don’t miss Beloved Christmas romcom, The Holiday (2006) presented live in concert this festive season with the film’s legendary Hans Zimmer score played live-to-film by Southern Cross Symphony.
The in-concert experience with full orchestra and cinema size screen is an incredibly unique and immersive way to experience The Holiday, which has become a cult Christmas viewing experience for many.
A Universal Pictures production, The Holiday stars Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black, and tells the story of how two women who have never met and live 6,000 miles apart find themselves in the same exact place.
They meet online at a home exchange website and impulsively switch homes for the holiday. Iris moves into Amanda’s L.A. house in sunny California as Amanda arrives in the snow-covered English countryside. Shortly after arriving at their destinations, both women find the last thing either wants or expects, a new romance.
The score for The Holiday was written by world renowned, highly celebrated and multiple Academy Award® and Golden Globe® winning composer Hans Zimmer
Elf: The Musical
Thursday, 19 December 2024, 7 pm
Friday 20 December 2024, 7 pm
Saturday, 21 December 2024, 1:30 pm + 7 pm
Sunday, 22 December 2024, 1:30 pm + 7p m
Tuesday, 24 December 2024, 1:30 pm + 7 pm
Thursday, 26 December 2024, 1:30 pm + 7 pm
Friday, 27 December 2024, 7 pm
Saturday, 28 December 2024, 1:30 pm + 7 pm
Sunday, 29 December 2024, 1:30 pm + 7 pm
Sydney Opera House
Everyone’s favourite not-so-little helper is coming to town
Meet Buddy, a young orphan who ends up at the North Pole after crawling into Santa’s gift sack. Raised as an elf, he remains unaware that he is actually a human. Given his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities, he must face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy heads to bustling New York City to track down his birth father. He must grapple with having a father on Santa’s naughty list and win over a sceptical younger half-brother who no longer believes in Santa.
Based on the beloved Christmas classic film starring Will Ferrell, Elf: The Musical features songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway, The Wedding Singer). The story comes to life with a book by Tony Award-winners Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone).
This brand-new concert production will bring the holiday magic to the Concert Hall in its Australian premiere. Expect a Christmas extravaganza with a dazzling cast of 16 performers and an on-stage band of 15.
Escape to the North Pole and New York City with your loved ones this December for a show that’s bursting with joy and holiday magic. Don’t miss out on the fun—Elf: the Musical is the ultimate holiday event for friends and family this Christmas at Sydney Opera House.
Disco Wonderland: A Night at Studio 54 SYDNEY SYMPHONY PRESENTS
Saturday, 1 February 2025, 7:00 pm
Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
You are invited behind the velvet ropes of New York’s Studio 54, as the boundless hedonism and pulsating music of the glory days of disco is brought to life by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in this unique experience.
Experience electrifying music from artists like Michael Jackson, Bee Gees and Earth, Wind & Fire through to Sister Sledge’s We Are Family and Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive, plus much more.
For one night only, the Hordern Pavilion will become a disco wonderland, with the full power of the Sydney Symphony performing live with stars of the stage and screen Paulini, Nick Afoa (The Lion King) and Nathaniel Willemse (The X Factor) – all led by conductor Vanessa Scammell.
There are no rules here, just disco. Welcome to the party.
Pano manCelebrating the music of Billy Joel
Friday, 7 February 2025, 7:30 pm
Saturday, 8 February 2025, 7:30 pm
Festival Theatre, Adelaide
For more than 50 years, American singer, songwriter and pianist Billy Joel has made an indelible mark on the American songbook. With 33 top 40 hits, 5 Grammy Awards and over 160 million albums worldwide, he is one of the most successful artists of all time.
ASO will celebrate Billy Joel in the Australian Premiere of Piano Man, featuring new orchestral arrangements by Nicholas Buc covering his greatest hits including Just the Way You Are, Uptown Girl, She’s Always a Woman, New York State of Mind, Only the Good Die Young, Vienna and of course Piano Man.
James Bond - Skyfall in ConcertQueensland Symphony Orchestra
Friday, 4 April 2025, 7:30 pm
Film Concerts Live! is proud to present Skyfall in Concert, the second instalment in the James Bond Concert Series, produced in association with EON Productions and Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios (MGM). Daniel Craig returns as the legendary secret agent in the franchise’s most successful film to date.
Now you will be able to experience composer Thomas Newman’s BAFTA-winning original score performed live by Queensland Symphony Orchestra in sync to the picture!
Directed by Sam Mendes, Skyfall pits 007 against the ruthless cyberterrorist and former British agent Silva (Javier Bardem), and the action takes him from a thrilling chase across the rooftops of Istanbul to the violent underworld of Macau, and ultimately to the streets of London and the very heart of MI6 itself.
His pursuit of the villainous Silva leads to an epic showdown at Skyfall Lodge, Bond’s remote family estate in the Scottish Highlands. Judi Dench returns as M, and Skyfall introduces two beloved Bond characters: Q (Ben Whishaw), and Eve Moneypenny (Naomie Harris).
This concert will be available for purchase starting Monday, 11 November, when the 2025 concerts go on sale for individual tickets.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ Part 2 in ConcertQueensland Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, 5 April 2025, 1.30 pm + 7:30 pm
It all ends this April! The final instalment of the Harry Potter™ Film Concert Series is here. After seven films, it all comes down to this:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ Part 2 will grace the screen once more — this time in concert! The characters you love are back, battling villains and protecting Hogwarts from Voldemort himself.
Hear Queensland Symphony Orchestra live as we bring Alexandre Desplat’s music to life and relive every harrowing loss and every remarkable victory as the final film is projected onto the big screen! Sport your house colours, grab your wand and prepare for the final battle in this blockbuster movie concert experience!
Festival of Outback Opera 2025Outback Queensland
Tuesday, 13 May: Festival Opening in Winton
Thursday, 15 May: Dark Sky Serenade in Winton
Fri day,16 May: Long Lunch in Winton
Saturday, 17 May: Singing in the Night in Longreach
Sunday, 18 May: Opera Ball in Longreach
Outback Queensland, various locations
Get ready to dust off your boots and don the Akubra, they’re heading out west again!
They’re delighted to announce that the Festival of Outback Opera will return to Winton and Longreach from 13 to 19 May 2025!
Promising another unforgettable celebration of music, culture and community in the heart of outback Queensland. The week-long lineup in 2025 will feature the following headline events.
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for the full festival program with a variety of additional events and activities.
Full program to be announced soon.
Sign up to Opera Queensland’s newsletter to be among the first to know.
Art of the Score: The Music of Hans ZimmerQueensland Symphony Orchestra
Friday, 23 May 2025, 7.30 pm
Saturday, 24 May 2025, 1.30 pm + 7.30 pm
Concert Hall, QPAC
Join us as we celebrate one of the unofficial Kings of Movie Scores: Hans Zimmer. With a musical range more expansive than the Pride Lands of the Lion King (of which he scored), settle in for an evening spanning several genres across the 80s, 90s, naughties and now! From the brooding tones of The Dark Knight to the heart-warming melodies of Kung Fu Panda, the magnitude of Zimmer’s works is guaranteed to keep you enthralled from Inception to Interstellar.
Puzzle yourself with crescendos of The Da Vinci Code, then jump aboard the Black Pearl and plunder with The Pirates of the Caribbean before a well-earned break with Cameron and Kate in The Holiday.
Hosted by the creators of the popular podcast, Art of the Score, Andrew Pogson and Dan Golding, with conductor Vanessa Scammell, your journey through these titans of technicolour will have you Zimming with enjoyment!
