New Zealand soprano Clarissa Dunn worked with Opera New Zealand and Opera Factory while studying languages and law at the University of Auckland. She continued her studies at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Australia where she acquired a Post Graduate Diploma in Voice. While there, she won both the Elizabeth Muir Memorial Postgraduate Scholarship and a Friends of the Conservatorium Scholarship.

After graduating, she was offered a place in the Developing Artist Programme at Opera Queensland. During this period, she performed such roles as Suor Genovieffa / Suor Angelica, Fanny / Il Cambiale di Matrimonio, Miss Hope / The Boy Who Grew Too Fast, Euridice / Orpheus in the Underworld, Atalanta / Xerxes (excerpts), Altar Boy / Tosca, Heavenly Being and an Angel of the Lord / The Pilgrim’s Progress, and Mrs. Cratchitt / Christmas Carol.

In 2004 Miss Dunn was awarded a Westpac St James Theatre and Opera House Grant enabling her to attend an intensive series of coaching sessions in Italy with Wyn Davies (British conductor and Director of Music at NBR New Zealand Opera).

Miss Dunn’s operatic career led her to London where she performed Zerlina / Don Giovanni for Harrow Opera and Barbarina / Le Nozze di Figaro for Hampstead Garden Opera. She was also honoured to sing in the world premiere of Australian Stuart Greenbaum’s opera, ‘Nelson’ for the Tait Foundation. Concert performances include Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater in London and Prague, as well as Vivaldi’s Gloria and Mahler’s 2nd Symphony with St Bartholomew’s Festival Orchestra.

Since 2006 Clarissa Dunn has been studying and performing in Berlin. She performed the role of Susanna / Le Nozze di Figaro for Berlin International Opera and has appeared in numerous concert performances including an appearance as part of the ‘Monbijoufestspiele’ in association with the Bode Museum, Berlin. She has participated in the annual ‘Neil Semer Vocal Institute’, studying with both Neil Semer and Roberta Cunningham.

Clarissa is now based in Sydney, Australia.