College Light Opera Company
Oboist & Reed Player • Summer Repertory Season
Falmouth, Cape Cod, MassachusettsABOUT MARISSA
Woodwind musician.
Performer. Instructor.
Marissa is a multi-instrument woodwind musician and instructor with experience performing on oboe, English horn, flute, clarinet, and saxophone.
MUSICIAN & EDUCATOR
Experience that shapes her teaching.
Marissa brings a broad background as a woodwind performer, ensemble leader, and private instructor to her work with students. Her experience spans oboe, English horn, flute, clarinet, and saxophone across orchestral, wind ensemble, theatrical, and community performance settings.
That versatility gives her an understanding of the different technical and musical challenges students encounter on each instrument, while her experience as both a performer and educator informs an individualized approach to helping musicians develop confidence, technique, and musical independence.
MUSICAL EDUCATION
A strong foundation in performance and leadership.
Marissa pursued her musical studies at Wesleyan University, one of the nation's leading liberal arts universities and a school with a longstanding reputation for excellence in the arts, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music with High Honors from Wesleyan's Music Department.
At Wesleyan, she performed as first oboe in the Wesleyan University Orchestra and held the baritone saxophone chair in WesWinds, the university's wind ensemble. She also spent three years reviving and directing the Cardinal Players Pep Band.
Musical theatre also became an important part of her development as a woodwind doubler. Marissa performed in the pit for multiple Spike Tape productions at Wesleyan University, playing oboe, flute, clarinet, and saxophone.
Selected productions include Avenue Q, Falsettos, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, and Assassins.
AN ACTIVE PERFORMING MUSICIAN
From Cape Cod to the Jersey Shore.
Following college, Marissa joined the College Light Opera Company in Falmouth, Massachusetts, performing as an oboist and reed player during its intensive summer repertory season on Cape Cod. The experience built on her background as a woodwind doubler, performing across a demanding schedule of live theatrical productions.
Her recent New Jersey performance work includes playing woodwinds for Surflight Theatre's production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's A Grand Night for Singing in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island, as well as performing in the pit orchestra for Jersey Shore Light Opera's production of H.M.S. Pinafore at the Grunin Center for the Arts in Toms River.
Marissa is also an active performer in the local concert band community. She performs on alto saxophone with the Pineland Symphonic Band and on clarinet, oboe, and piccolo with the New Egypt Town Band, and has appeared as a guest musician with the Toms River Municipal Band.
Performing regularly across theatrical, orchestral, and concert band settings keeps Marissa actively engaged with the same skills she develops with her students—from ensemble playing and sight-reading to preparation, versatility, and confident performance.
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
Selected experience.
Surflight Theatre
Woodwinds • A Grand Night for Singing
Beach Haven, Long Beach Island, New JerseyJersey Shore Light Opera
Pit Orchestra • H.M.S. Pinafore
Grunin Center for the Arts • Toms River, New JerseyPineland Symphonic Band
Alto Saxophone
Ocean County, New JerseyNew Egypt Town Band
Clarinet • Oboe • Piccolo
New Egypt, New JerseyToms River Municipal Band
Guest Musician
Toms River, New JerseyTEACHING & INSTRUCTION
Helping students become confident musicians.
Marissa brings experience in private instruction, ensemble leadership, and working with developing musicians to each lesson. Today, she teaches private woodwind students at Music & Arts in Toms River in addition to providing private instruction through Reed & Key.
Her approach combines strong technical foundations with music reading, ear training, effective practice strategies, and performance preparation, helping students understand not only what to play, but how to become stronger, more independent musicians.
Lessons are personalized around each student's experience and goals, from beginning an instrument and strengthening school repertoire to audition preparation, technique, and playing simply for the enjoyment of making music.
Private instruction through Reed & Key is available for oboe, saxophone, clarinet, and flute at our Lakehurst, New Jersey studio or in students' homes throughout Ocean County and surrounding areas.
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