CLARISSA CHRISTINA SMITH is an accomplished soprano, educator, and arts advocate based in Tucson, Arizona. She holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Arizona and is currently completing her Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance with a minor in Ethnomusicology. In addition to joining the faculty of the Tucson Girls Chorus, she teaches voice at Operachi, serves as a Teaching Artist with Arizona OperaTunity, and performs as a principal soprano with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. 

An active performer both in the United States and abroad, Clarissa was selected as a Voice Fellow for Opernfest Prague 2026 and previously performed with the Berlin Opera Academy. Her operatic repertoire includes Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), La Contessa (Le nozze di Figaro), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus), the title role in Suor Angelica, Emily Webb (Our Town), and the Princess in La forêt bleue. 

As a Teaching Artist with Arizona OperaTunity, Clarissa brings opera to schools throughout Arizona through engaging educational performances. This fall, she will tour schools across the state in Little Red Riding Hood, featuring music adapted from Mozart's Don Giovanni. She is passionate about inspiring the next generation of musicians by helping young singers develop healthy vocal technique while discovering and embracing their own unique artistic voices. Clarissa believes every student has an individual sound and story to share, and she strives to cultivate confident, curious, and independent artists who will carry a lifelong love of music.