Vanessa studied piano, voice and conducting at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media and was fortunate enough to meet and learn from film composer Randall Meyers (SOPHIE'S WORLD) in Munich, who became her mentor and friend.
Vanessa attended many international master classes by some of the greatest film composers like Alexandre Desplat (GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL), James Newton Howard (THE DARK KNIGHT) and Danny Elfman (ALICE IN WONDERLAND). After working on her first student film for Peter Zeitlinger (DOP on QUEEN OF THE DESERT), she scored many more films for him and director Silvia Zeitlinger. Today the Zeitlingers are amongst her closest friends.
In 2017 Vanessa started her own recording studio “Donelly Records”, where she produces her film music and songs, including musical and pop songs by her duo “Grace” with musical performer Lisa Hintzke. They do live performances as well.
Since 2020 she is a member of “Books, Music and Lyrics” (BML) London, where she composes songs for musicals. 

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