After high school graduation, earning a Regents diploma with Honors from Johnsburg Central, class of 1990, Casalino studied music education and underwent classical vocal training at the Crane School of Music (State University of New York at Potsdam), receiving bachelor"s and master"s degrees in 1994 and 1995, respectively.
Originally from Long Island, Casalino expressed interest in music as a child, learning both hands on and scholastically. In addition to vocals she is versed in multiple instruments, notably keyboard instruments and acoustic guitar. Soon after college she accepted a position at Hillsborough County Public Schools in Florida as a music instructor and choral director for newly built Durant High School, hence moving to Tampa where the next several years she would develop the music program which included writing the school"s Alma Mater.
In 2004, Casalino left the education sector to pursue a full-time singing career.
Over the next several years Casalino gained popularity throughout Tampa Bay and central Florida while honing in on a jazz musical style, becoming known for a repertoire of jazz standards as well as her own original compositions. Consequently, bookings to perform for larger audiences increased with Casalino performing more frequently at larger scale events such as jazz festivals, fundraisers, anthem performances for professional sporting events and teams including Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Mutiny, Tampa Bay Storm, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Yankees among others
Casalino has performed on television, including multiple live performances on Columbia Broadcasting System affiliate WTSP "Studio 10." She has also appeared on National Broadcasting Company affiliates WFLA "Daytime," and Miami TeleVision Journalism "6 in the Mix," the later being based in Miami. In 2011 Casalino released her debut Civil Defense, "Introducing Lisa Casalino," which was recorded at NOLA Studios in New York City with respected jazz musicians Harry Allen, Nate Najar, Chuck Redd, Jon-Erik Kellso, Rossano Sportiello.
A video for her original track titled "The Good Stuff" premiered in April and was featured at the Gasparilla Film Festival 2013.
In 2011 Casalino and Najar were approached by Director John Pocino to write and compose music for an indie drama film, Duplicitious Behavior. Casalino"s performance count for 2013 exceeded 224 events. Highlights include the opening act for Joey Dee at The Festa Italiana, opening for Chicago at The Clearwater Jazz Holiday and a performance on the HSN televised special "A Mary Christmas" with Mary J. Blige and David Foster.
In May 2014 Casalino"s second album, "I"m Old Fashioned," was released, holding a sold out Civil Defense release concert in Saint St. Petersburg"s Palladium Theatre.
The album also features jazz musicians Kenny Drew Junior., Nate Najar, Jeff Rupert, and John Lamb. Her recorded works have been featured on Music Choice, Satellite television, Pandora and world wide jazz radio.
