Carissa Mattison is a San Diego native and the Director of Instrumental Music at Point Loma High School. A tuba student of Thomas Bough, and instrumental conducting student of Edward Benyas, Ms. Mattison holds degrees in Music Education and English Literature from Southern Illinois University (SIU). While at SIU, Ms. Mattison enjoyed success as the first Undergraduate Assistant Conductor of the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, as well as serving as the Assistant to the Musical Director of the Southern Illinois Music Festival. During this time, she was invited to conduct the Chicago Chamber Orchestra in educational performances for young children. In her final year at SIU, Ms. Mattison was honored with a nomination as one of the university's Most Distinguished Seniors for her involvement in the School of Music, where she held two undergraduate assistantships, and performed in nearly every major ensemble. Additionally, Ms. Mattison was honored for volunteering her time teaching in the John Thomas String Project, a non-profit program devoted to bringing free music education into under-served elementary schools in Illinois.
As a tireless advocate of Music Education, Ms. Mattison has taught every level of music from elementary school to high school. Prior to arriving at Point Loma in 2016, Ms. Mattison taught at La Costa Canyon HS for ten years. During her time at La Costa Canyon, Ms. Mattison was honored with a number of teaching awards, including a 2013 Lynette Robinson Award for furthering Inclusive Education from the North County Consortium for Special Education (NCCSE), as well as being named Teacher of the Year at La Costa Canyon in 2015. Before that, she was the Assistant Director of Bands/Orchestras at Diamond Bar High School in 2006-07, and completed her student teaching in the Mt. Vernon City schools in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. In her career, many of Ms. Mattison's ensembles have received Superior ratings at SCSBOA festivals, and her marching bands have won field sweepstakes at local SCSBOA marching competitions.
Ms. Mattison has also enjoyed an active career as a tuba player. She performed in the Opening Ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She has also performed as the principal tuba player in the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, and the Southern Illinois Music Festival Orchestra. Additionally, she has performed in concerts with the St. Louis Brass Band, the Central Band of the White Russian Army, and in concert at the Royal Military School of Music in Kneller Hall, England. She has also performed in master classes with Sam Pilafian and the Cavani Quartet. Additional mentors include Melissa Mackey, and the late Richard Lorenzen.
As a tireless advocate of Music Education, Ms. Mattison has taught every level of music from elementary school to high school. Prior to arriving at Point Loma in 2016, Ms. Mattison taught at La Costa Canyon HS for ten years. During her time at La Costa Canyon, Ms. Mattison was honored with a number of teaching awards, including a 2013 Lynette Robinson Award for furthering Inclusive Education from the North County Consortium for Special Education (NCCSE), as well as being named Teacher of the Year at La Costa Canyon in 2015. Before that, she was the Assistant Director of Bands/Orchestras at Diamond Bar High School in 2006-07, and completed her student teaching in the Mt. Vernon City schools in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. In her career, many of Ms. Mattison's ensembles have received Superior ratings at SCSBOA festivals, and her marching bands have won field sweepstakes at local SCSBOA marching competitions.
Ms. Mattison has also enjoyed an active career as a tuba player. She performed in the Opening Ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She has also performed as the principal tuba player in the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, and the Southern Illinois Music Festival Orchestra. Additionally, she has performed in concerts with the St. Louis Brass Band, the Central Band of the White Russian Army, and in concert at the Royal Military School of Music in Kneller Hall, England. She has also performed in master classes with Sam Pilafian and the Cavani Quartet. Additional mentors include Melissa Mackey, and the late Richard Lorenzen.
