Clarice Assad

Biography

Clarice Assad, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a Grammy-nominated composer, pianist, vocalist, and educator recognized for her remarkable versatility across classical, jazz, Brazilian, and world music genres. Growing up in one of Brazil’s most celebrated musical families—her father is the renowned guitarist and composer Sérgio Assad—Clarice began performing professionally at the age of seven. Her formal training included piano studies in Brazil, France, and the United States, and she holds degrees from Roosevelt University (Chicago College of Performing Arts) and the University of Michigan.

Assad’s career has been marked by an impressive output of over 70 compositions, including orchestral, chamber, and solo works, many commissioned by prestigious organizations such as Carnegie Hall, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and Orquestra Sinfônica de São Paulo. Her music is deeply influenced by Brazilian rhythms, jazz improvisation, and classical forms, resulting in a distinctive style noted for its evocative colors and rich textures. As a performer, she is celebrated for her inventive vocal techniques and dynamic stage presence, singing in multiple languages and often blending genres seamlessly. Assad is also an influential educator, founding the award-winning Voxploration program, which promotes spontaneous music creation using only the voice and body.

Her legacy includes collaborations with leading artists and ensembles worldwide, and her works have been recorded by luminaries such as Yo-Yo Ma, Dame Evelyn Glennie, and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. Assad’s innovative approach and commitment to musical outreach continue to inspire new generations of musicians and audiences alike.

Fun Facts

• Clarice Assad is fluent in Portuguese, French, and English, and sings in all three languages.
• She began performing professionally at the age of seven, making her stage debut as a child.
• Her family, the Assads, is often referred to as 'Brazil's First Family of Music,' and includes her father Sérgio, uncle Odair, and aunt Badi.
• Assad is the founder of Voxploration, an innovative workshop that encourages spontaneous music creation using only the human voice and body.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Sérgio Assad - father and early musical influence (family collaborations, mentorship) [childhood-present]
• Sheila Zagury - first formal piano teacher in Brazil (piano studies) [childhood]
• Natalie Fortin - piano teacher in Paris (piano studies) [teen years]
• Leandro Braga - jazz and Brazilian piano tutor (jazz/Brazilian piano studies) [teen years]
• Ed Bedner - classical piano teacher at Berklee (classical piano studies) [college years]
• Bruce Berr - classical piano teacher at Roosevelt University (classical piano studies) [college years]
• Ilya Levinson - composition mentor (composition studies) [college years]
• Stacy Garrop - composition mentor (composition studies) [college years]
• David Rakowski - composition mentor (composition studies) [college years]
• Osvaldo Golijov - composition mentor (composition studies) [college years]
• Michael Daugherty - composition mentor (composition studies) [college years]
• Evan Chambers - composition mentor (composition studies) [college years]
• Claude Baker - composition mentor (composition studies) [college years]
• Susan Botti - voice teacher (vocal studies) [college years]
• Judy Blazer - voice teacher (vocal studies) [college years]

Key Collaborators

• Sérgio Assad - father; frequent musical collaborator (family concerts, recordings) [ongoing]
• Odair Assad - uncle; family ensemble collaborations (Assad family projects) [ongoing]
• Badi Assad - aunt; joint performances and recordings (Assad family projects) [ongoing]
• Yo-Yo Ma - recorded her compositions (recordings of Assad's works) [2000s-present]
• Dame Evelyn Glennie - recorded her compositions (recordings of Assad's works) [2000s-present]
• Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg - recorded her compositions (recordings of Assad's works) [2000s-present]
• Liang Wang - recorded her compositions (recordings of Assad's works) [2000s-present]
• Chanticleer - collaborative concert projects (Century Chamber Orchestra and Chanticleer concert) [2014]
• Inna Faliks - premiered Assad's piano work for speaking pianist (premiere, 2014) [2014]
• Denise Milan - co-created Ópera das Pedras (Ópera das Pedras) [2010s]
• Lee Breuer - co-directed Ópera das Pedras (Ópera das Pedras) [2010s]

Artists Influenced

• Voxploration participants - students and musicians inspired through her educational program (VOXploration workshops) [2010s-present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. A Tide Of Living Water
2. Miles & Miles
3. Lullaby
4. The Last Song
5. A Quiet Place (Triptych II) (Identidade)
6. The Last Song
7. Sin fronteras (Project W: Works by Diverse Women Composers)
8. The Last Song
9. Archetypes: I. The Rebel (Archetypes)
10. Archetypes: IV. The Lover (Archetypes)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #composer, #to-clean-up