Vanessa CROOME
Vanessa Croome is a critically acclaimed soprano who is earning recognition on stages across North America. She is praised for "a fluid, ethereal soprano with vigour and brilliant high notes, capable of convincing descents into mezzo territory," (PAN M 360) and for her "impeccable and clean coloratura" (Le Devoir). On the operatic stage, Croome is known for her work in classical and contemporary repertoire, with credits spanning world premieres to core repertoire. In the 2025-2026 season, Ms. Croome sang as Marguerite in the world premiere of Les dévots at Espace Libre, and a “hilarious” Noémie in Massenet's Cendrillon with Opéra du Royaume (Revue L’Opéra). She returns to the company next season in two principal roles. This summer, Ms. Croome will also return to the role of Frasquita in Carmen with Festival Opéra St-Eustache.
Ms. Croome’s recent operatic highlights include singing as a soloist in the world premiere of M. Butterfly (Santa Fe Opera), covering Queen of the Night in Kosky’s production of Die Zauberflöte (Opéra de Montréal), and singing the role with the Jacksonville Symphony. She also recently covered Frasquita in Carmen with Santa Fe Opera, Josephine Young in An American Soldier with Opera Theatre St. Louis, sang as Léa in the world premiere of L'hiver attend beaucoup de moi with Opéra de Montréal, and La Folie in Platée with Orchestre de l'Agora.
On the concert stage, she has been heard as soloist in Mahler's Symphony No. 4 with l'Orchestre de l'Agora, a Messiah tour with l'Orchestre Symphonique de Drummondville, and The Mixtape with l'Orchestre Métropolitain and Opéra de Montréal, alongside recital debuts at Montreal’s Salle Bourgie, Chapelle Historique du Bon-Pasteur, and with the Sociéte d'arts et culture, Hautes-Vosges France.
Equally at home in new music, Croome co-founded the voice and cello ensemble Duo Étrange in 2023 with cellist Sahara von Hattenberger. Signed to Canada's premier classical label ATMA Classique, the duo released their debut album I Wish I Were Dead in February 2026 to immediate critical recognition — supported by a $50,000 award from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Salle Bourgie commissioning fund, the album featured 4 world premieres by Nicole Lizée, Airat Ichmouratov, Laurence Jobidon, Fong Jeffrey alongside works from Luna Pearl Woolf, Anders Hillborg, and Maya Fridman. Duo Étrange has held artistic residencies with Avaloch Farms, Yellow Barn, and Le Vivier. Recent concert engagements include Salle Bourgie, Chapelle Historique du Bon Pasteur, Opéra du Royaume and Le Vivier. In 2025, the duo co-produced Very Feral Today a new theatre piece for voice and cello in collaboration with Marcus Shields and Frank J. Oliva.
A graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music (full scholarship) and McGill University's Schulich School of Music (Dean's Scholarship), Croome has been recognized with the Opéra de Montréal Prix Étoile Stingray, two Francis Poulenc Foundation Awards, and laureateships with Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques. Her competition credits include finalist placements at the Canadian Opera Company Centre Stage Competition and the McGill University Elizabeth Wirth Vocal Prize. Named one of Montreal's Top 50 Women Leaders in 2024 and 2025 for her work creating new classical music initiatives, she was an invited guest lecturer with the voice faculty at the Université de Montréal during the 2025–2026 academic year. Croome was a featured performer and artistic collaborator on La vie, la mort, le dessert (SAT/Mirari Opéra de Montréal), a multi-disciplinary production featuring arrangements by Duo Étrange, which was nominated for a 2026 Prix Numix. Her voice has also been featured in film projects including Le plein potentiel (Maison 4:3) and Le Mixtape (Opéra de Montréal/Orchestre Métropolitain). Croome currently serves on the board of the Réunion des Opéras du Québec.