Vanessa began her performing career by marching color guard when she was 10 years old. She has performed with St. John's of Beverly (1994-1999) and Sacred Heart of Roslindale (2002-2006). In 2004, she helped bring Sacred Heart to a Championship title in Independent Open Class. She continued marching with Sacred Heart in the Independent World Class. She also performed with such groups as the East Coast Jazz Drum and Bugle Corps and the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps from Nashua. She marched 2002 through 2004 with the Spartans guard, earning Best Guard and a DCI Division II Championship Title.

After aging-out with the Spartans she began teaching on the Spartans Visual Staff from 2005 until 2007. In 2007 the Spartans help bring home another World Championship Title. In addition, she had held long-term jobs since the age of 14. She has also taught various falls bands and winter guards including the Saltonstall School Drum and Flag Team, St. John's guards, the All Saints guards, Weymouth HS guard, and visual at Melrose HS. Currently, she is teaching the Boston University color guard.

Vanessa's recent achievement was graduating from Salem State College with a Bachelor of Science in Geography: Travel and Tourism and a Minor in dance. This was a perfect degree for her with her vast background of travel. She has traveled both domestically and internationally numerous times and encourages others to build a global outlook.

Visual Movement and Dance

• 2008