Joining Samba Masala in her first year in SMU was no doubt the best decision Vanessa has made in her university life. The minute she picked up the drum sticks during the tryout session and joined in the groove, she knew she was hooked on it. Very thankful to be able to continue pursuing her passion in Sambiesta, Vanessa loves just how infectious Samba music is and is delighted that she is able to share the funky beats with an extensive audience. She is constantly inspired by her instructors’ – Budi, Hardy and Sharan from Wicked Aura – ingenuity and passion for Samba.

Before discovering Samba, Vanessa has been classically trained since the age of five when she started learning the piano and has gone a long way since then, moving on to teaching part time since 2005. Her other involvement in music included a two-year stint in the choir as a Soprano singer and sectional leader during her junior college years. Who says one can’t have the passion for and excel in two different ends of the music spectrum?