CLARA, born in 2004, is a singer and a French horn player. When she was 6 years old she began studying Voice at The Ugarte Studio in Atlanta, Georgia, with Pia Ugarte Elliott. Her first opera performance was two years later in New York City’s Central Park with New York Grand Opera, where she sang as part of the “Tosca” Chorus under the baton of Vincent La Selva. She auditioned for the Atlanta Opera Children’s Chorus and was part of their main stage productions of “Carmen” in 2012 and “Tosca” in 2013.  She sang the “Star Spanged Banner” for Kennesaw State University at a CBS Sports Televised Lacrosse Game; was a Finalist at the 2012 Fayette County Schools Poetry Recitation Festival; and won the Second Prize of the 2013 Kiwanis Performing Arts Competition. She also participated in the Legacy Theatre musicals: “Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr.”, “Godspell” and “The Little Mermaid” as Andrina. At the Frederick Brown Amphitheater she sang in the Ensemble of “Les Miserables” with the Twilight Theatre.  At 10 years old she was a Finalist in 2014 Hal Leonard Vocal Competition Children’s Art Song and Semi Finalist and in Musical Theatre.

       She moved to Naples, Florida in 2014, and began taking Voice lessons with Rebecca Richardson (Music Studio of Naples).  She is a member of Opera Naples Youth Chorus and has sung in many of their main productions: In 2014 in the opera “La Boheme”, and in “The Holiday Brunch” at Le Jardin where she sang in a group setting, and also a solo performance. She was part of the Inauguration of the Wang Opera Center in Naples in 2015, and the Opera Naples 10th Anniversary Black Tie Gala. Later that year she participated in the “Rising Stars” concert, also performing a solo and in a group. In 2016 she sang in the opera “Turandot”; in the “Rising Stars” concert ,  the “Naples Winter Palace Ball”; the “Christmas concert” at Royal Poinciana C.C; the “ON Christmas Party” and in the televised “5th Avenue Lightning of the Tree”, performing Solos in every performance.  She participated in the Naples Opera Youth Summer Program singing in Sullivan’s operetta “HMS Pinafore” in July 2016. 

        At 12 years old she auditioned for the Mozart’s opera “Magic Flute” and performed at 13 the role of “First Spirit” at Artis Naples. The following year she sang at the Naples Botanical Gardens for “ON Gala”, and as a soloist  at the “Rising Stars” 2018 concert.  She has performed with Gulfshore Opera “Hansel and Gretel” at the Bonita Center for the Performing Arts in Bonita Springs,  and with Gulfshore Symphony Orchestra “La Boheme” in 2016 (children’s chorus duet with her sister, Lucia) and “Tosca” at the Barbara Mann Auditorium in Fort Myers. In 2017 she auditioned for the Honors Program and was selected to sing at the Carnegie Hall in New York City during the summer of 2017. 

       Clara has sung jazz music as well. As a soloist, she performed with the Oakridge Middle school Jazz Band, and also with them won Superior ratings at the Florida Bandmasters Association. 

       She has been member of The Ugarte Studio Group Drama, The Legacy Theatre Intermediate Musical Theatre, The Legacy Theatre Ballet, The Lisa Kelly Voice Academy (Stage movements and contemporary voice), The Naples Academy of Ballet, and The Artis Youth Philharmonic Chorus.  Clara has attended masterclasses with the following teachers: Maestro Vincent La-Selva (Nola Studios, NY); Professor Diana Heldman, (NYU, NewYork); Marina Biassoti (Cast Member- Teatro Colón, Argentina); Ana Sirulnik (Institute of Vocal Arts Teatro Colón, Argentina) and Svletana Strezeva (Prima Donna of the Moldova National Opera Company/ Teatro La Scala, Milan.)  Clara also performs for “Sing for Smiles”, an Opera Naples program for residents of Assisted Living facilities around the area.

       As a French Horn Player she is currently a student of Ryan Little (Principal Horn at Artis Naples Orchestra). She has been part of Oakridge Middle School Advanced Band and is a current member of Gulf Coast High School Marching Band and Concert Band.  Clara won a medal for Superior rating at the “Wind Instrument Solo and Ensemble 2018” ( Florida Bandmasters Assoc.) playing Strauss Concerto Op 8, and participated of the annual concert given by students of the Artis Naples Orchestra members at Artis Naples in May 2018.