BIO

Vanessa Matthys

Vanessa Matthys graduated as a Master in jazz singing with David Linx at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. She also studied at the “Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse” in Paris for one year as an Erasmus exchange student. She became a finalist in the international jazz vocal competition in Riga, Latvia (2013) and the Dinant Jazz competition (2009). Vanessa had the opportunity to collaborate on stage and in the studio with numerous jazz artists such as the Brussels Jazz Orchestra, Dirk Brossé, Bill Carrothers, The Keystone Bigband, Drew Gress, Ivan Paduart, Frank Deruytter, Jan De Haas, ... Vanessa is a vocal teacher at the Conservatories of Bruges and Kortrijk (Belgium). She also worked as a reseacher at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp (Belgium). Together with Katrien Van Opstal she researched the ins and outs of jazz vocal technique. Their book “Vocal Jazz Technique - the mixing table model” was released in January 2023. In 2023 Vanessa toured with a project dedicated to the late great Toots Thielemans. These pieces were live recorded with her dad pianist Marc Matthys at Piano’s Maene and can be found on youtube and on all streaming platforms under the title “Time flies, sit back and enjoy.” In 2024 Vanessa and pianst Ivan Paduart collaborated on a project where the American and Belgian Songbook are highlighted. They explore Belgian classics as well as own compositions and surprising arrangments of American jazzstandards, made by Vanessa. In 2026 Vanesa will be touring as a member of The Brussels Vocal Project for Muziektheater LOD, for whom Nabou Claerhout composed the music.