Zoe Rissa is an aspiring artist, songwriter, performer, and producer at the Frost School of Music, studying in the MADE program (Modern Artist Development and Entrepreneurship) with a minor in Music Industry and Media Scoring and Production. Her work focuses on bridging creative artistry with the business and development side of the music industry, with a strong interest in artist development, live performance, and building sustainable creative careers.

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At Frost, Zoe is actively involved in multiple areas of music-making and performance. She is a member of Phoenyx Acapella, where she serves as secretary and contributes to the arranging committee. She is also the music director of her own band, leading original music projects, booking live performances, and directing rehearsals to bring her artistic vision to life on stage.

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A core part of Zoe’s work is original music creation. She writes, produces, and develops original material both independently and with her band, focusing on building a distinct artistic identity through songwriting, arrangement, and live performance. Her work emphasizes emotional storytelling and intentional structure, with a focus on how songs translate from creation to audience connection. In addition to her own projects, Zoe collaborates with other artists in live and studio settings, supporting rehearsals, chart writing, arrangement development, and live performance execution.

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Her experience also extends into production and operations. She works in recording services and concert hall staff at Frost, and outside of school, she works at a live music venue as well as PNC Bank Arts Center, gaining hands-on experience in large-scale live event production and artist support.

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Previously, Zoe attended Howell High School’s Fine and Performing Arts Center (FPAC) in the Music, Video, and Production (MVP) program, where she served as lead stage manager and production manager while working across nearly every role in the live production program. This built her foundation in leadership, technical execution, and live event coordination.

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Across all of her experiences, Zoe has developed a well-rounded, hands-on understanding of the music and live entertainment industry, spanning creation, performance, production, and artist development. She continues to grow as both a creative and an emerging music industry professional, focused on originality, collaboration, and bringing music to life on stage and beyond.

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