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
The Whitlams with Sydney Philharmonic
13 – 14 March 2026, 7:30pm
Civic Theatre, Newcastle
The Whitlams brings its renowned symphonic collaboration to Newcastle for the first time on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 March, with the Sydney Philharmonic joining the band on its trip up the Pacific Highway. The Whitlams was the first Australian indie group to perform with Australia’s finest orchestras back in 2004, and after four national tours, it’s time for Newcastle to experience the elegance and power of this spectacular show.
Classic compositions including No Aphrodisiac and Blow Up the Pokies are joined by highlights of The Whitlams’ 2020s resurgence with a song from each of the two recent albums, Sancho (2022), and the Americana influenced, Kookaburra (2024).
Tim Freedman says, “Once every seven or eight years we get to perform in the middle of the beautiful storm of a symphony orchestra. I am so glad to bring it to Newcastle at last, which has always been our greatest regional supporter”
Encore! Songs from the Musicals
Thursday, 28 May 2026, 7.30 pm
Friday, 29 May 2026, 7.30 pm
Saturday, 30 May 2026, 2.00 pm
Regent Theatre, Melbourne
A thrilling, star-studded showcase of showstoppers from our musical theatre classics.
There are moments in the theatre when time seems to stand still — when every note, every lyric, every breath pulls you deeper into a world beyond your own.
In 2026, we’re celebrating 70 years of bringing great stories and music to the stage. In recent years, this has included the presentation of some of the world’s most beloved musicals.
Join us for a landmark concert of showstoppers drawn from our celebrated musicals, including The Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, South Pacific, West Side Story, Miss Saigon, Evita, Sunset Boulevard, A Little Night Music, Guys & Dolls and more.
An outstanding cast of musical theatre talents, accompanied by the magnificent Orchestra Victoria, will take you to musical theatre heaven.
The Merry Widow Presented by Opera Australia
8 July – 18 August 2026
Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Sway, smile and swoon your way through The Merry Widow.
It’s an opulent party, all glitz and glamour and Parisian charm. It’s an old-fashioned romance, flirty and funny and fabulous. It’s a Viennese waltz and you know all the steps.
The Merry Widow is a “shimmering all-singing, all-dancing Broadway-style show” (The Sydney Morning Herald), a frothy comedy packed with familiar waltzes and tuneful melodies.
From the sumptuous Art Deco era costumes to the glamourous, geometric sets, the show is “visually stunning … sometimes you simply don’t know where to look” (The Sydney Morning Herald).
New Zealand-born international opera star Emma Pearson and beloved Australian soprano Julie Lea Goodwin share the role of Hanna, bringing their own unique energies to the iconic role. Graeme Murphy brings his signature brand of lively choreography and deft direction to the dance-packed score.
