As a dynamic and fluid musician never limited by genre, Carissa thrives in the richness of various musical experiences. Her many projects include a solo show, Ironwood Quartet, Ritornello Chamber Music Festival, and a Ukrainian turbo-folk band Tyt i Tam.

UKRAINIAN FOLK and art music

Carissa is passionate about her Ukrainian heritage and everything that comes with it.  She grew up jamming with her family members, sang and played in her dad's Ukrainian folk choir Lastiwka, and formed a folk-rock band Tyt i Tam which is happily busy today (see below).  Carissa recently started performing with Moldavian cimbalom star Alexandru Sura, performing programs which combine Eastern-European folk music (Ukrainian, Romanian, Lautari, and tunes that don't fit into just one box) with folk-inspired classical pieces, like Ravel's Tzigane and Bartok's Romanian Folk Dances.

Carissa's love of folk music led her to see if there was anything as compelling in Ukrainian art music - something that quickly became the subject of her doctoral studies at McGill.  Her dissertation, Cornerstones of the Ukrainian violin repertoire: 1870 – present day, discusses works for violin and piano by little-known Ukrainian composers including Mykola Lysenko, Borys Lyatoshynsky, Myroslav Skoryk, and Valentyn Silvestrov.

founder and artistic co-director, ritornello fest

Striving to bring the chamber music concert experience into the 21st century, the Ritornello Chamber Music Festival showcases exciting, Canadian musicians who are currently pursuing professional careers across the country and around the globe.  Ritornello Fest is co-directed by violinist Carissa Klopoushak and pianist Jacqueline Woods. Their common goal is to provide Saskatchewan audiences the opportunity to hear innovative, fresh concerts performed by young, engaging musicians of the highest quality, with special attention to those who were born and raised in the Prairies.  Saskatchewan’s one and only chamber music festival takes place annually the last weekend of May in downtown Saskatoon.  

Ritornello Fest has featured Lara St. John, the Cecilia Quartet, Philip Chiu, Plumes Ensemble, and many more fabulous artists.
Discover more: www.ritornello.ca 

violin & lead vocals, TYT I TAM

For over a decade, Тут і Там (pronounced Toot ee Tahm) has been captivating audiences worldwide with their unique and progressive style of Ukrainian folk music.  Established in 2003, the band has performed across Canada at the Toronto, Montreal, Dauphin, and Vegreville Ukrainian festivals, as well as in Sydney, Australia.  The band released their fourth album, Obriad (Ritual), in August 2015.  

Obriad (Ritual) is a 12-track concept album through which the band explores ancient rituals of the calendar year and life cycle in a contemporary context. Through Obriad, the band examines fundamental elements of the human experience - love and loss, the changing of seasons, celebration and hardship, traditional songs and village dances - with a new depth and impassioned honesty. Obriad is Тут і Там's most mature album to date, marking a departure from their earlier three releases while keeping the energy, instrumental prowess, and vocal harmonies that they are known for. It shatters expectations with the seamless fusion of folk-rock, dance, ska, reggae, and village influences.  Discover more: www.tytitam.com

Carissa is a proud member of the National Arts Centre Orchestra violin section.  Created in 1969, the NAC orchestra performs over 100 times each year during a 46-week season in Canada's capital.  NACO has traveled extensively across every region of Canada, touring throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.  Currently, the orchestra is led by Music Director Alexander Shelley and Principal Guest conductor John Storgårds.  Previously, Pinchas Zucherman acted as Music Director.  

Carissa spent much of 2014 performing with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, whom she joined for a series of tours and recordings, including a North American tour and residency at The Banff Centre.  Previously, she performed as the Principal Second Violin of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra.