Music has always hugely influenced Carissa’s life. She began taking piano and fiddle lessons, both classical and traditional at the age of eight.

Through her traditional influences she also took up the tin whistle, bhodran, and principally, the clarsach.  At the age of 15, Carissa was accepted at the Junior section of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow.  Here, she studied piano, fiddle and voice for three years. She now teaches Scottish music and song at the Junior RSAMD every Saturday and privately she teaches piano lessons.  For the past four years Carissa has studied Music at the RSAMD.