College Light Opera Company
Oboist & Reed Player • 2025 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.
A LIFELONG CONNECTION TO MUSIC
Growing through music and leadership.
Marissa began developing as both a musician and musical leader while attending Manchester Township High School. She served as Marching Band Drum Major and Jazz Band Saxophone Section Leader and earned first-chair oboe in the All-Shore Band.
Her experience across multiple woodwind instruments gave her an early appreciation for the unique challenges of learning each instrument—and for the difference individualized instruction can make in a musician's development.
FROM MANCHESTER TO WESLEYAN
A broad foundation in performance.
Marissa continued her musical studies at Wesleyan University, graduating in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Environmental Studies and a minor in Animal Studies. She graduated with High Honors from Wesleyan's Music Department.
At Wesleyan, she expanded her performance experience across orchestral, wind ensemble, pep band, and theatrical settings. She held the first oboe chair in the Wesleyan University Orchestra and the baritone saxophone chair in WesWinds, the Wesleyan University Wind Ensemble.
She also spent three years reviving and directing the Cardinal Players Pep Band, helping build the ensemble while encouraging musicians to develop confidence in a collaborative performance setting.
Musical theatre 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 across oboe, flute, clarinet, and saxophone.
Selected Spike Tape credits 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 graduation, Marissa joined the College Light Opera Company in Falmouth, Massachusetts, performing as an oboist and reed player during its intensive 2025 summer repertory season on Cape Cod.
Her recent New Jersey performance work includes playing woodwinds for Surflight Theatre's 2026 production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's A Grand Night for Singing in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island.
She also performed in the pit orchestra for Jersey Shore Light Opera's 2026 production of H.M.S. Pinafore at the Grunin Center for the Arts in Toms River.
Marissa remains active in the local music community, performing on alto saxophone with the Pineland Symphonic Band and on clarinet, oboe, and piccolo with the New Egypt Town Band.
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
Selected experience.
Surflight Theatre
Woodwinds • A Grand Night for Singing • 2026
Beach Haven, Long Beach Island, New JerseyJersey Shore Light Opera
Pit Orchestra • H.M.S. Pinafore • 2026
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 JerseyWesleyan University Orchestra
First Oboe
Wesleyan University • Middletown, ConnecticutWesWinds
Baritone Saxophone
Wesleyan University Wind EnsembleCardinal Players Pep Band
Director • Three Years
Wesleyan UniversitySpike Tape at Wesleyan
Woodwind Pit Musician • Multiple Productions
Selected credits: Avenue Q, Falsettos, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, and AssassinsTEACHING & INSTRUCTION
Helping students become confident musicians.
Marissa's experience as an educator began with beginning musicians while she was still in high school and grew considerably at Wesleyan, where she spent three years rebuilding and directing the Cardinal Players Pep Band.
Today, Marissa teaches private woodwind students at Music & Arts in Toms River in addition to providing in-home instruction through Reed & Key.
Her approach combines strong technical foundations with music reading, theory, ear training, effective practice strategies, and performance preparation. She encourages students not simply to play the notes on the page, but to understand how technique, physical awareness, and musical choices shape their sound.
Lessons are personalized around each student's experience, interests, and goals—whether they're beginning their first school instrument, looking for additional support with band repertoire, preparing for an audition or concert, strengthening their technique, or simply learning for the enjoyment of making music.
Private in-home instruction through Reed & Key is available for oboe, saxophone, clarinet, and flute throughout Ocean County and surrounding areas.
READY TO BEGIN?
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