Clara Mannino, is a flutist in the United States Navy Band Northwest in Silverdale, WA.
Prior to joining the Navy in May of 2019, Ms. Mannino was a freelance musician in Spokane from 2015-2019. She provided liturgical music for St. Francis Xavier, St. Thomas More, and St. Aloysius Catholic Churches, was a member of the faculty teaching private flute lessons at Spokane Falls Community College, Holy Names Music Center, and Clearwater music. She taught choir at St. Thomas More School. Ms. Mannino subbed in the Yakima, Coeur d’Alene, and Spokane Symphonies, as well as performing with Spokane Civic Theater, and Inland Northwest Opera pit orchestras. She founded and directed the Spokane Flute Choir from 2016-2019 to be succeeded by Heather Johnson.
Clara Mannino holds a Master of Music degree in Flute Performance from James Madison University studying with Dr. Beth Chandler and a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from Central Washington University studying with Dr. Hal Ott.
During her studies, Ms. Mannino won many merit based scholarships, and competitions, including the Young Artist Competition at Musicfest Northwest (2011), was selected for the National Flute Association Collegiate Flute Choir (2012), performed in competitive masterclasses with Amy Porter at the Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention (2014), Jim Walker at the Hampton Roads Flute Faire (2015), and was awarded an honorable mention in the Coeur d’alene Young Artist Competition in 2018. Clara Mannino is the featured flute soloist in the inaugural recording of Alan Hovhanness’ work Meditation on Ardalus, released by Naxos in 2018.
Learn more about Clara and her experiences as a professional musician in the interview below.