Clarissa Zaruk is a Belgian Pianist currently based in Dubai. After having graduated in 2018 with a Masters degree in piano performance, Clarissa explores the world geographically, professionally and creatively. She’s expanded and performed in various settings and exploring different musical genres. Her main musical interests and passions currently are playing and performing works from young modern day composers and collaborating with local artists and communities in Dubai.
Artist Bio
Clarissa Zaruk is a Belgian pianist, born into a multicultural family where arts and culture were at the heart of her education. In her youth, she tried her hand at various instruments during musical summer Camps in Ostin, Belgium.
At the age of ten, she started playing the piano at the Music Academy of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert in the class of Marie-Dominique Gilles.
In 2012, she joined Roberto Giordano's class at the IMEP (Institut de Musique et de Pédagogie) in Namur (Belgium). At IMEP, she continued to nourish her curiosity and thirst for learning by participating in various contemporary music projects as well as study Harmony. She also participated that same year in the national Belfius classics competition where she won a second prize.
In 2013, she participated in a Journalistic project called les Six/de Zes where she was one of 6 young commentators for the 2013 Queen Elisabeth competition.
In 2014-2015, she continued her musical and linguistic studies in the South of Italy in Reggio di Calabria always with Maestro Giordano at the Francesco Cilea Conservatory as part of the Erasmus program. She got particularly immersed in the italian culture of Opera, learning the fundamentals of vocal/opera accompaniment with theatre pianist, Milo Longo.
She continued to perfect her piano skills during masterclasses with pianists such as Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden, Johann Schmidt, Yuka Izutsu, Rosella Clini, Levente Kende and Nikolaas Kende.
She performed at the “Il-pleut-des-cordes” festivals for young musicians in Stavelot and Malmedy in 2014 and 2015 as a chamber musician and soloist.
In addition to her Master's degree in piano performance, which she completed at IMEP in June 2018, Clarissa Zaruk obtained a Bachelor's degree in music writing and theory from the Koninklijk Conservatorium van Brussel (Royal Conservatory of Brussels) in the Harmony class of Hans Van Daele in the same year.
Over the years, she consolidated her skills as an accompanist. She was the founder, leader and accompanist of one of the Parish Choir in Saint Anthony’s from Belgium (2014 to 2018) and in the Parish of Valentigney, France (2018-2019). Classically she also performed in solo and accompanied singers from the Brussels based group group I Cambristi (2019-2021).
Since graduating, parallel to her full time teaching work, she expanded and performed in various countries and explored different musical genres (Musical, Chamber music, Pop Rock, Crooner and choir music).
After moving to Dubai, she collaborated with local communities and Artists as a soloist, accompanist and chamber musician (Home Concerts UAE in 2020-2023, Wim Hoste in 2020-2021, Musical Improv ME in 2019 -2020, The Reverb Room in 2020) at the Mall of the Emirates Theatre, House of Pianos (2020, 2022), Alliance Française (2022), and Dubai Beach Canteen (2020) and has also performed for Corporate Events through Soul Artists and Whisper Events (2023).
Teaching Bio
“As a Teacher, my mission is to support students in reaching their fullest Musical Potential through a wholistic, joy filled and gentle teaching approach”
Piano Teacher
I have been teaching Piano for over 10 years children and adults from 2 and a half years old to Retirees.
I’ve had the opportunity to teach in various countries privately (mainly expats) in Belgium (2013-2018), at the Conservatoire de Belfort in France (2018-2019, class of 25 students) and with Private Music Lessons Dubai in UAE (2019-2023, class of 30+ students a year).
This experience of working with students from many different nationalities, in different languages and settings has given me a unique ability to adapt to a their level, background and ambitions. It’s also given me a broader understanding of various National and International Grading and Examination systems and Requirements which I’ve had to prepare students for (such as the ABRSM and Trinity Exams and the Examens de Fin de Cycle in France and Belgium).
Musical Initiation Teacher
One day, a mother came to me requesting Piano Lessons for her daughter. Being a relatively young teacher then, I did not bother asking for the Child’s age beforehand and arranged the first meeting. To my surprise, the student who showed up at the doorstep was only 2 and a Half Years old. Thus began my journey as a Musical Initiation Teacher.
After my first Music Initiation Student (which I taught for 2 years until she was 4), I began working with Bebe Maestro, a school in Brussels specialised in Musical Activities for Babies, Infants and Toddlers from 0 to 4 Years Old as a teacher, camp Leader for their Summer camps, replacement accompanist and later as part of their admin team. I learned a lot from their unique and wholesome way of awakening the joy of Music in tiny beings through all the senses.
In Dubai with Private Music Lessons, I was able to set up Group Musical Initiation activities for French Expats in the Theatre of the Mall of the Emirates (Art For ALL) as well as within the Alliance Française of Dubai.
Over the years, I’ve developed a unique personalised method of teaching the fundamentals of Music theory, culture and piano playing to young children (2 to 5 years old) through games, story telling and singing.
I’m Currently based in Dubai teaching in home piano lessons and Music Initiation classes with Private Music Lessons Company. I have a class of 30+ students from all corners of the world and am currently not accepting new students.
For further teaching inquiries and to be put on the Waiting list, Please fill the Contact form below.
