biography
Claire Duff graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a BAHons Degree in Music and French, received distinction for the Postgraduate Diploma in Baroque Violin from the Royal Academy of Music, London, and graduated from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with a Masters in Performance. She has studied with Monica Huggett, Pavlo Beznosiuk and Lucy van Dael. While at the Academy, Claire was the recipient of numerous prizes and awards.
She is the first person from the Republic of Ireland to become a member of the European Union Baroque Orchestra and returned as principal second violinist for a tour with Andrew Manze. Claire has played as leader with Florilegium, English Touring Opera and The Kings Consort, with whom she has performed at the Wigmore Hall, London and across Europe and appears on the highly acclaimed Monteverdi Vespers CD.
Claire is leader of the Irish Baroque Orchestra and regularly performs as soloist with Monica Huggett and IBO, including Bach's Double Violin Concerto, recorded for the 'Irish Baroque Orchestra Plays Bach' CD. She has performed as soloist with the Mannheim University Orchestra in Vivaldi's Four Seasons, with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in Vivaldi's Concerto for Four Violins and with the English Concert in Van Wassenaer and Valentini concerti for Four Violins. Claire has received critical acclaim for her performances in Ireland and the U.K. which have included solo recitals with Malcolm Proud and chamber concerts with IBO Chamber Soloists, I Fagiolini, Lucy van Dael, Elizabeth Wallfisch, Maya Homburger and Emma Kirkby.
As a member of the English Concert Claire performs in major classical music venues around the world. Her TV appearances include 'Handel’s Water Music' BBC documentary with the English Concert,'Vivaldi’s Women' BBC documentary with OAE and 'British Music' BBC series with Charles Hazelwood.
Claire was a recipient of the Arts Council Bursary Award 2007.
more about Claire
Claire has given historical peformance masterclasses in the Royal College of Music, London with Ashley Solomon and at the Dublin Institute of Technology, Conservatory of Music and Drama. She has twice been director of the Sligo Baroque Festival orchestra and has directed string rehearsals in Trinity College of Music London.
Claire teaches privately and has given baroque violin lessons at Trinity College of Music, London. She gives education workshops to primary and secondary school children in Ireland and was the adjudicator for Co. Louth Young Music Awards 2007. Claire has delivered lectures on the baroque violin to Music Degree students at the University of Waterford. As part of her Masters course in the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, she gave lectures 'Lully – the control freak' and 'Violin bowing in the baroque era' and received maximum grades for her Masters Thesis 'Cousser – the Dublin Years (1707–1727)'.
Claire is a member of the Board of Directors of the Irish Baroque Orchestra and is players representative. She has given interviews with RTE Lyric FM, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio 3, Spanish press with Andrew Manze, Early Music America Magazine, The Irish Times and The Gloss Magazine.