A Gilmore Young Artist and Salon de Virtuosi recipient, Indonesian pianist Janice Carissa is celebrated for her ability to craft vivid musical narratives that transcend mere virtuosity (Chicago Classical Review). She has performed for the President of Indonesia at the Presidential Palace Indonesia, and earned ovations in the United Nations, Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House and Louis Vuitton Foundation, among others.
Following her Philadelphia Orchestra debut at sixteen, which earned praise from the Philadelphia Inquirer for “radiating the multicolored highlights of a mature pianist,” she has collaborated with luminaries including Stéphane Denève, Cristian Măcelaru, Peter Oundjian, Osmo Vänskä, and Jahja Ling; stepped in for Andre Watts with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; and featured as a soloist with the Kansas City, Nashville, Curtis, Promusica, Amarillo, Sacramento, Kalamazoo, Bay Atlantic, Battlecreek, Symphony in C, and Tacoma symphonies.
Engagements for the 2024-2025 season will include debuts with the Pittsburgh, Knoxville, Delaware, Erie, Boise, Lakeside symphonies, a residency at Durango’s Music in the Mountains, and solo recitals across the United States showcasing repertoire spanning from Bach to Rzewski, and a world premiere of Eunike Tanzil’s Five Miniatures.
Recent career highlights include an invitation from the San Diego Symphony to perform Ravel's Left Hand Concerto, which was described by the San Diego Tribune as "masterful.” Equally compelling was her interpretation of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 17 in G, K. 453 with the Nashville Symphony, which Music City Review hailed as "a masterful performance that earned the ovation."
Equally at home in intimate settings, Carissa is a sought-after chamber musician and has collaborated with Vadim Gluzman, Miriam Fried, Pamela Frank, David Shifrin, Marcy Rosen, Paul Neubauer, Shmuel Ashkenazy, Zlatomir Fung, Lucy Shelton and members of the Berlin Philharmonic’s Scharoun Ensemble. Her versatility and deep commitment to collaboration has been showcased at the Marlboro, Ravinia, Bravo! Vail, Caramoor, North Shore, and Kneisel Hall festivals. Carissa is a member of an American collective of soloists and chamber musicians called Ensemble 132, and appears regularly with the Jupiter Chamber Players.
A committed advocate for contemporary compositions, Carissa has premiered works by Carl Vine—made possible through the Gilmore’s generous support—Timo Andres, Wang Jie, Katherine Balch, Alistair Coleman, and Alyssa Weinberg.
Born in Surabaya, Indonesia, Carissa began her piano studies under her mother's guidance. Now settled in New York, she moved to the United States at fifteen to study at the Curtis Institute of Music with Gary Graffman and Robert McDonald, later completing her Master's at The Juilliard School as a Kovner Fellow. Her journey has been enriched by support from the Lang Lang and Lieven Foundations, as well as mentorship from Eliso Virsaladze, Ingrid Fliter, Alon Goldstein, Davide Cabassi, Claudio Martinez-Mehner, Andreas Staier, and Tatiana Zelikmann. When away from the stage, Carissa enjoys immersing herself in the world of food and photography.