Ms. Schukis has had a multi-faceted career as a character mezzo, actress, stage director, choreographer, vocal coach, educator, mosaic artist and administrator. She has sung a wide variety of operatic, oratorio and broadway repertoire to great critical acclaim and has performed roles with the Boston National Company of Nunsense starring Pat Carroll and Alice Ghostley, Boston Lyric Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Opera Providence, New England Light Opera, Intermezzo Chamber Opera, Raylynmoor Opera, Wheelock Family Theater; Lyric Stage Company of Boston; New Opera and Musical Theater Initiative, Opera New England, Longwood Opera Company, Northeastern Repertory Theater, Boston Publick Theater, Stoneham Theater, Old North Chamber Orchestra, Weymouth Fine Arts Chorale, Rivers Symphony Orchestra and Newton Symphony. Vanessa is known in New England for her roles as Julia Child in “Bon Appetit” and her one woman tribute to Marlene Dietrich, “wie einst Lili Marlene” .
Ms. Schukis has been a soloist/section leader for the historic Old North Church, Boston, Massachusetts for 35 years and continues to perform in theater, opera and concert engagements throughout the United States. Special performances that deserve mentioning are: National Anthem and “God Bless America” at a Boston Red Sox Game at Fenway, National Anthem on the U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides) turn around, National Anthem at New England Dragway, Epping, NH and the National Anthem at Lebanon Valley Speedway, MA and a televised performance with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Salt Lake City, UT.
In addition to being a performer, Vanessa is an award winning teacher with over forty years experience in performing arts education and inclusion. Currently Vanessa teaches music at The Murphy School in Dorchester, MA and Harvard Kent School in Charlestown, MA through the community engaged program of The Community Music Center of Boston. Recently, Miss Schukis has published three children's books("Miss Sugar", "Mr. Dimes" and "Dallas and the Accordion") and won 2013 Children's Book of the Year for her book "Mr. Dimes". Books are available for purchase @ http://www.bookemon.com)
Vanessa has been a member of the guest faculty at New England Conservatory, Boston, MA and visiting faculty at Longy School of Music Cambridge, MA.​