Description
Clarissa Fallorina is a highly accomplished musician and music educator. She was born and raised in San Diego, California, and showed an early aptitude for music. At the age of 12, Clarissa began playing the trumpet in her middle school’s mariachi group and fell in love
with the genre. She continued playing trumpet throughout her teenage years, performing with the San Diego Youth Symphony and other local ensembles.
Clarissa’s dedication to mariachi music led her to pursue specialized training in the field. She earned an associate’s degree in Music, with a Mariachi Specialization, from Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California. During her time there, she had the opportunity to perform with the prestigious Mariachi Garibaldi de Southwestern College under the direction of Dr. Jeff Nevin. She also traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico, to represent the United States in the international Mariachi Festival and performed in Egypt to represent Mexico, showcasing her musical prowess on a global stage.
In 2015, Clarissa began teaching trumpet in the Sweetwater Union High School District in San Diego. She quickly made a name for herself as an outstanding educator, inspiring her students to develop their own musical talents and love for mariachi music. Her passion for teaching and her desire to share the rich cultural heritage of mariachi music with her students led her to pursue a degree in Music Education at San Diego State University.
Clarissa graduated from San Diego State in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. She is now pursuing her teaching credential and has begun a mariachi program at Rancho Buena Vista High School in Vista, California. Through her teaching and performing, Clarissa hopes to continue to inspire future generations of mariachi musicians and educators, and to ensure that this vibrant musical tradition continues to thrive for years to come.
