SHORT BIOG

Claire McCue is an award winning Scottish composer, lyricist, orchestrator and music educator. 

She  enjoys composing for anything from soloists  to full orchestra, and has collaborated across a variety of art forms including dance, drama, visual arts and animation. Her work has commissioned / performed by soloists, duos, many chamber ensembles, orchestras  and choirs including Royal Scottish National Orchestra, RSNO youth chorus and chamber group,  National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, Fidelio trio, Nordic New Music Days festival 2025, The Sixteen's Sublime Sing, Royal Opera House children’s chorus, National Youth Choir of Scotland,  National Youth Choir of Northern Ireland, Farnham YC, Children's Classics Concerts and new music ventures such as Red Note ensemble, The Night With…, and Sound Festival. She was also previously composer in residence at SoundThought Festival. Claire's music has been performed across the UK, internationally, and broadcast on BBC Radio 3, BBC Scotland, BBC Ulster and BBC Scotland TV.

Claire has recently been shortlisted for the 2025 Scottish section for ISCM World Music Day (2026). She was a previous British finalist for International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) World Music Days, and since featured on the ISCM website for another piece in recent years.

Claire has also been shortlisted twice for the Scottish New Music Awards. 

FULLER BIOG

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, Patrick Barrett 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 musicianship (following the Kodaly approach) delivery in disadvantaged areas in Glasgow and teaching piano/composing / arranging for Falkirk council Instrumental Services. 

 Outwith work / composing, Claire  loves her new rescue kitten/now cat, "Mimi Musetta Charlie Brown". (long but meaningful name!), swimming , tennis,  the Arts generally, growing things and quality times with family and friends.