Clarissa Christina Smith, soprano, is a Tucson-based artist known for her expressive voice, compelling stage presence, and versatility across operatic and concert repertoire. She is currently completing her Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance with a minor in Ethnomusicology at the University of Arizona, where she has been the recipient of numerous top honors, including multiple first-place awards in the President’s Concerto Competition, Amelia Riemann Opera Competition, Marguerite Ough Opera Competition, and the Southern Arizona Opera Guild’s Quest for the Best. 

Clarissa’s operatic repertoire includes leading roles such as La Contessa (Le nozze di Figaro), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus), and the title role in Suor Angelica, which she has performed with both university and international companies. She is honored to return to Puccini’s Suor Angelica in the title role with Passion Project Opera during the 2026 season. Her recent and upcoming engagements also include performances with Arizona Opera and frequent appearances as a soprano soloist in major choral-orchestral works. 

In summer 2026, Clarissa will be featured as a Voice Fellow at Opernfest Prague, where she will participate in advanced operatic training and make professional recordings with the Czech Symphony Orchestra in the historic Smetana Hall. 

In addition to her performance career, Clarissa is a dedicated educator and teaching artist with Arizona Opera’s Operatunity program and a vocal instructor at Operachi School of Music. As a proud Latina artist, her work bridges classical vocal traditions with mariachi and folkloric influences, reflecting both her heritage and her scholarly focus. Through performance, teaching, and outreach, Clarissa is deeply committed to expanding access to opera and fostering inclusive, community-centered musical spaces.