Vanessa Tonelli
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION:
Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) 2015 –2022
Doctor of Philosophy, Musicology, Gender and Sexuality Studies Certificate, Graduated with Honors
Dissertation : “Figlie del Coro: Women’s Education and Performance at the Venetian Ospedali, 1670-1740”
Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI) 2011 – 2013
Master of Arts, Musicology, Specialization in Women and Gender Studies
Master’s Thesis (2013): “Women and Music in the Venetian Ospedali”
New Mexico State University (Las Cruces, NM) 2006 – 2010
Bachelors of Music Education, Instrumental, Trombone, College of Arts and Sciences’ Dean’s List, Crimson Scholar Graduate (Graduated with Honors)
Honor’s Thesis (2010): “Gendered Conceptions of Instrument Choices in Music Education”
PUBLICATIONS:
“Musical Daughters of Venice.” In Barbara Strozzi in Context. Edited by Wendy Heller and Beth Glixon. Composers in Context Series. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (Forthcoming, 2025).
“Agata della Pietà,” “Chiara della Pietà,” “Fortunata Cantora della Pietà,” “Andriana della Tiorba,” “Margherita Doglioni,” “Francesca della Tiorba,” and “Santa della Pietà.” Grove Music Online. New York: Oxford University Press (Forthcoming, 2024)
“Making a Name in Music: Professional and Social Strategies of the Musicians at the Venetian Ospedali Maggiori.” In Non-Elite Women’s Networks Across the Early Modern World. Edited by Elizabeth S. Cohen and Marlee J. Couling. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2023.
Paradies, Pietro Domenico. Le muse in gara. Critical performing edition. Recent Researches in the Music of the Baroque Era. Middleton, WI: A-R Editions, 2021.
“‘It's How We Play’: Professional Female Trombonists in the United States.” International Trombone Association Journal 43, no. 3 (2015): 26-30.
CONFERENCE PAPERS
“Benefit or Detriment?: Reception and Negotiation of Women’s Musical Performance.” Panel hosted by the Centre for the Study of Renaissance at Warkwick. Renaissance Society of America Conference, Chicago, IL (March 2024).
“The Performer’s Voice: Musical Training and Solos of the Venetian Figlie di Coro.” Women in Art and Music: An Early Modern Global Conference, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. (October 2023).
“‘Più penosi lai’: Rethinking Male Characters’ Laments in Late-Seventeenth-Century Operas.” Midwest Graduate Music Consortium Conference, Madison, WI (April 2017).
“Musical Anomaly in Eighteenth-Century Europe: Professional Female Instrumentalists of the Venetian Ospedali.” American Society of 18th Century Studies Conference, Cleveland, OH (April 2013).
“L’Ospedale della Pietà: How Abandoned Girls Became Virtuosi.” Paper Presentation, Music Theory & Musicology Society Conference, College-Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, OH (April 2012).
“Abandonment to Virtuosity: The Foundling System and Conservatories in Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Italy.” Thinking Gender Conference, University of California, Los Angeles (February 2012).
LECTURES AND RESEARCH FOR PUBLIC PERFORMANCES
“Hidden Virtuosas.” Historical Consultation, Public Workshop, and Pre-Concert Lecture. La Tempesta di Mare - Philadelphia Baroque Orchestra. Philadelphia, PA (Forthcoming, 2025).
“Celebrating Agata, unsung composer.” Historical Consultation for Reconstructed Composition of Agata della Pietà. Australian Chamber Choir. Palazzo Pisani, Venice, Italy (July 2024).
“La decollazione di San Giovanni Battista by Maria Margherita Grimani.” 21st-Century Premiere with Program Notes, Performance Edition, and Pre-Concert Lecture. Haymarket Opera Company. Chicago, IL (March 2024).
“Music Mosaics - Settling the Score: A Celebration of Music By Women.” Program Notes and Concert Lecture. Faculty Showcase with Cristina Ballatori and DIana Shapiro. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Whitewater, WI (March 2024).
“Cecilia & the Carnevale: Drama Regarding the Figlie del Coro.” Pre-Performance Lecture. Wonthaggi Theatrical Group. Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia (October 2020).
“George Frederic Handel’s Theodora.” Pre-Concert Lecture. Bienen School of Music Opera Program. Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (May 2018).
“Stan Kenton’s Jazz.” Pre-Concert Workshop and Lecture. Presidents’ Associates Scholars Culture-Outreach. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM (2009).
OTHER PRESENTATIONS AND INVITED LECTURES
“Restoring the Voices of Women Musicians.” Research Presentation. Music Theory and Musicology Colloquium. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (November 2022).
“Researching Baroque Music Education in Venetian Archives.” Guest Lecturer in MUS 234: Music of the Baroque. Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (October 2020).
“‘Slow dragging, Belly rubbing, Hip grinding, Flirtatious strutting’: Sexuality in the Modern Blues Dance Community.” Paper Presentation. Northwestern University Musicology Colloquium. Evanston, IL (May 2017).
RESEARCH AWARDS
Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation: Venetian Research Program (Sept. 2019 – Aug. 2020)
Northwestern Graduate Research Grant (September 2019)
Social Science Research Council, Dissertation Proposal Development Program (May-September 2017)
Michigan State University Research Enhancement Award (December 2012)
Stanley & Selma Hollander Endowment Fund Recipient (January 2012, November 2012)
UNIVERSITY TEACHING EXPERIENCE
University of Southern Mississippi – Hattiesburg, MS
Visiting Assistant Professor, August 2024
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater – Whitewater, WI
Full-Time University Lecturer, August 2022 –May 2024
Courses:
Musc 245: Survey of Western Art Music, pre-1750
Musc 246: Survey of Western Art Music, post-1750
Musc 240: Survey of African American Music
Musc 345 / WomenSt 345: Women in Music (Gender and Music)
Musc 465: Music and Disability Studies
Musc 466: Music and Politics
Core 110: World of Arts, with Honors Options
Northwestern University – Evanston, IL
Instructor of Record, August 2017 – December 2018
Courses:
Gen-Mus 170: Introduction to Music for Non-Majors
Gen-Mus 175: Music, Gender, and Sexuality
Gen-Mus 230: History of Opera
Teaching Assistant, August 2016 – March 2018
Courses:
Mus 213: World Music Cultures
Mus 214: Western Music Cultures, Before 1600
Mus 215: Western Music Cultures, 1600-1800
Mus 216: Western Music Cultures, 1800-Today
Michigan State University – East Lansing, MI
Teaching Assistant, August 2011 – May 2013
Courses:
Integrated Arts and Humanities 208: Music and Culture
Integrated Arts and Humanities 241A: Great Works of Western Art Music
Integrated Arts and Humanities 241A: Introduction to World Music – Music and Society in the Modern World