Virna Sanzone

Virna Sanzone is a vocalist, vocal educator and lecturer whose career spans more than 25 years in performance and teaching. She has been the jazz voice specialist at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music since 2014 and, over this period, has contributed substantially to the development of the jazz vocal program and to the education of emerging professional singers. In 2025 she became a continuing member of academic staff and currently holds a fractional academic appointment, teaching singers from undergraduate to postgraduate levels. An alumna of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Jazz Department (1998), Virna completed a Master of Music (Vocal Pedagogy) at Griffith University in 2024, graduating with Distinction.

Alongside her academic work, Virna maintains an active career as a performer, recording artist and collaborator. She has appeared at major festivals throughout Australia, including Sydney Festival, Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Sydney International Women's Jazz Festival, Melbourne Women's International Jazz Festival, Stonnington Jazz Festival and Norfolk Island Jazz Festival.

As an educator, Virna supports students in developing both vocal freedom and freedom of expression. Her approach to technique is grounded in a thorough knowledge of vocal anatomy and function, along with an keen understanding of the psychobiological nature of the voice. She maintains a strong focus on developing students’ aural skills and theoretical knowledge to support deep engagement with jazz, and on fostering their ongoing artistic development and creative autonomy.