Clarisa De la Garza grew up in Mission, TX. She began her private clarinet studies under Dr. Bill O'Neil at the University of Texas Pan American at the age of thirteen. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor's degree in music performance from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2017, and graduated with a Master's degree in clarinet performance from the University of Texas San Antonio in 2024. She currently teaches at the Musical Arts Center of San Antonio as a clarinet and piano instructor. In 2016 she was the winner of UTRGV's annual concerto competition for her performance of Weber's "Concertino in Eb Major, Op.26" and in 2022 she was the winner of UTSA's annual concerto competition for her performance of Debussy's "Premiere Rhapsodie."

Clarisa has a joy for all things music and has experience in various areas beyond clarinet performance, including clarinet pedagogy, music theory pedagogy, piano performance, piano pedagogy, piano accompaniment, arranging, composing, conducting, and music research. She has been teaching privately since 2015 and is passionate about sharing musical knowledge and skills in a casual and nurturing environment. Her clarinet students have exhibited success in TMEA and ATSSB middle and high school region and state competitive events, including admittance into All-State bands and first chair positions at local regionals.

She is not accepting new student inquiries at this time.

During her graduate studies Clarisa discovered a new love for music research and academic writing, finding great interest in niche areas of study. Two submissions were presented at the University of Texas at San Antonio's College of Liberal and Fine Arts Research Competition in 2024: “A Beginner’s Guide to Klezmer Clarinet Techniques,” which received the second place award, and "Orfeo 9: A Psychedelic Take on the Classic Myth,” which received the third place award. Her most recent work in progress, "Unveiling Early- and Mid-20th Century Clarinet Sonatas by Women," compiles and catalogues rare and underperformed pieces for clarinet and piano into a comprehensive programming guide. She is currently preparing these pieces for studio recording in the near future and the publication of this catalogue once it is complete, in the interest of increasing visibility and appreciation for music by underrepresented composers.

In between studies, writing, and teaching, Clarisa composes music, primarily featuring the clarinet. Her improvisatory piece for clarinet choir, "9:13," had its world premiere performed by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley clarinet ensemble at the International Clarinet Association's ClarinetFest in Lawrence, Kansas in 2016. Her second piece for clarinet choir, "Lost in Reverie," commissioned by Dr. Nicholas Councilor and the University of Texas San Antonio clarinet ensemble, was premiered at the Texas Music Educator's Association convention in San Antonio, Texas in 2024. "Lost in Reverie" was also a winner of the East Carolina University clarinet studio's Call for Scores competition in 2025. Her most recent chamber work, “Rhapsody No.1 - Impressions” for bass clarinet, drum set, and two pianos was a finalist in the International Clarinet Association annual chamber composition competition in 2024. A solo with electronics version of the piece was premiered at the International Clarinet Association's ClarinetFest in Fort Worth, TX in 2025, performed by Dr. Nicholas Councilor. This same event saw multiple performances of her works, including "Lost in Reverie," "In Song and Spirit," and a world premiere performance of "For Isa" for clarinet ensemble and narration by the University of Texas at San Antonio clarinet ensemble.

She is currently working on multiple commission projects - stay tuned!

Her works are both self-published here at cdelagarzamusic.com and distributed by CAMco Music, LLC at clarinetallmusic.com.

During her time away from music, Clarisa enjoys boxing, relaxing at home, and game nights with friends.