Prizes / Awards / Nominations
Scottish Awards for New Music Nominee (2019)
(Chamber Music Category)
LEAP Artist, produced by SERIOUS, supported by Paul Hamyln Foundation, 2019
Scottish Awards for New Music Nominee (2017)
(Chamber Music Category)
Finalist, Wallace Arts Trust Awards, 2016, New Zealand (Collaboration)
Cottier Chamber Project festival composition competition winner, 2015
British Finalist, ISCM World Music Day, 2015
Cottier Chamber Project festival composition competition winner, 2012
Dinah Wolfe Prize for Composition,
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 2011
Patrons Prize for Composition, 2011
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland,
RCS Special Award, 2011
RCS Trust Fund Scholarship 2010
RCS Trust Fund Scholarship 2009
Alexander Stone Award for Excellence, 2007
University of Strathclyde
Claire is a Scottish composer, orchestrator, lyricist, and music educator currently living in Glasgow. She came back to music after other degrees and studied composition at Masters level, with Rory Boyle, at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS), thanks to two generous scholarships from RCS. She graduated in 2011 with MMus Composition, (distinction) and several prizes.
Prior to that, Claire, originally gained a first class BSc(hons) in Maths Statistics & Management science before returning to her passion for music. She completed a BA Applied Music, studying a range of subjects including piano, trombone and composition, and playing in the university orchestra and Big Band. She graduated with 1st class honours and was awarded the Alexander Stone award in her final year.
Following the Masters, Claire went on to receive many commissions and more competition successes. She enjoys composing for anything from concert soloist to full orchestra, and her work has been commissioned and performed by many chamber ensembles, choirs and several orchestras and festivals including RSNO orchestra and Youth Chorus, Fidelio trio, Red Note Ensemble, NYCOS, NYOS symphony orchestra, National Youth Choir of Northern Ireland, Children's Classic Concerts, Ruth Morley, Juice ensemble, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and more.
She has also been commissioned /performed by a variety of contemporary new music ventures such as The Night With…,, Sound Festival, Sound Thought (composer in residence) Cottier Chamber Project. and many more.
Claire's music has been directed by prominent conductors including Ilan Volkov, Martyn Brabbins, Christopher Bell, Jessica Cottis and others. And performed both nationally and internationally. Her music has also received multiple broadcasts (as well as several interviews) on BBC Radio 3, BBC Scotland, BBC Ulster and BBC Scotland TV.
A versatile composer, Claire enjoys variety and has worked with a wide range of groups from professional orchestras and chamber groups, to young choirs and in education. Her work has been described as having "a flair for the dramatic", having "within all the technical features, an ability to sustain a mood of reflection". and being "quirky", "soulful" and able to connect with the audience and critics alike.
She has also been involved in cross-arts collaborations across a variety of art forms such as dance (various ).including dance, theatre, visual arts, animation and performance art, which she particularly enjoys, having had a background in theatre and dance as a semi-professional hobby / work in early days / student work!
Claire has been shortlisted twice for the Scottish New Music Awards chamber music composition category and also reached the British finalist stage for ISCM (International Society for Contemporary Music) World Music Day, with her first string quartet, which was also the winner of the then Cottier's Chamber music composition competition and received it's initial premiere and another performance with RSNO chamber group.
Recently, Claire was a selected ambassador for Scotland at the Nordic New Music days and has since been commissioned to write a new piece for their finale concert later this year. (winter 2024), amongst other work.
Aside from being a composer, Claire works in various in various education settings including as a Junior conservatoire lecturer in Practical musicianship and piano at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, early years curriculum development and training for Falkirk YMI, delivery in disadvantaged areas in Glasgow and various other freelance projects. She is passionate about EY music education in particular,
Outwith work / composing, Claire loves her new rescue kitten, "Mimi Musetta Charlie Brown". (long but meaningful name!), swimming , tennis, the Arts generally, growing things and quality times with friends and family.
