Carissa Darmawan

Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Carissa Darmawan began playing the piano at the age of four and a half, discovering a lifelong passion for music.

Carissa has earned top honors in numerous international competitions. Her achievements include First Prize in both the Grand Virtuoso International Music Competition (2026) and the Special Venue Music Awards (2026), Third Prize in both the New York Young Virtuoso Competition (2026) and the Prima Volta Competition (2026), First Place in Elite International Music Competition (2023, 2024, 2025), and a Silver Medal at the AADGT International Young Musicians Festival "Passion of Music" (2023). 

She was also named First Place in both Solo for Golden Era of Romantic Music International Competition and American Fine Arts Festival (2021), and Second Place in Solo for International Romantic Music Competition, American Protégé (2021, 2022).

Carissa’s accomplishments have brought invitations to perform at renowned venues worldwide, including multiple recitals in Carnegie Hall in New York City, Harvard University, and the BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels, Belgium.

Locally, Carissa has participated in the Austin District Music Teachers Association (ADMTA) festivals since 2018, consistently earning Superior and Superior Plus ratings. She has also earned Gold Medals on the Texas Music Teachers Association (TMTA) state theory exams every year since first grade. Deeply committed to community outreach, Carissa regularly shares her music with residents at local retirement homes.