With a degree in Music and Sound Engineering, a masters in Arts Management and a second master’s in Events Management, it’s clear that Vanessa loves learning – almost as much as she loves music. Over the past 14 years, she’s worked behind the scenes at venues and Festivals – as a sound engineer, venue manager, logistics coordinator and events manager. This has seen her working with the likes of St George’s, Bristol Beacon, Strange Brew and the Jam Jar, as well as with organisations such as Team Love, Ear Trumpet Music and the Asian Arts Agency. It’s this 360-degree understanding of events that makes her such an incredible addition to the MUTI teaching team.
“Sometimes I teach people who already have 20 years of industry experience. It’s this environment of knowledge sharing that makes MUTI LIVE so unusual.”
“I’ve always been fascinated by understanding how things work. I started out playing drums and guitar – then got curious about everything happening behind the scenes. That pushed me into sound engineering, then events management, then logistics – and honestly, I’m still learning every day.
As well as teaching, I’m Events Administrator at the Asian Arts Agency, and often coordinate shows or plan logistics for other events, tours and festivals – including one of my favourites, Esteréo Picnic in Bogotá! I need to be highly organised to juggle this mix of work, but I find writing copious notes helps me stay in control. This work can be hectic and intense, but I love being busy and always manage to look calm (even if I don’t always feel it!).
Although I’d say working in live music is my passion, I’ve come to realise that working with people is what really drives me. I love seeing learners from all ages and backgrounds come together and suddenly realise how much they can teach each other. All the incredible students I’ve worked with at MUTI have taught me something new too.
