Claire Howard obtained her Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours in Piano Performance with teacher Colin Spiers, and was awarded the University Medal from Newcastle Conservatorium, NSW. She continued her postgraduate piano accompaniment studies at the Canberra School of Music and then the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, where she was awarded the Broadwood Junior Piano Accompanist Fellowship. She subsequently earned a Master of Music in Performance and Research with Distinction from the Royal Academy of Music, London, studying piano accompaniment with Malcolm Martineau and Iain Ledingham.

Her pianism has been described as “an exceptional display” (Limelight Review), “truly superb playing” (Deborah Humble) and “beautiful music making” (Simon Keenleyside). Claire has recorded for ABC Classic playing music by Australian composer Paul Smith and appeared in recitals with Deborah Humble, Roderick Williams, Mariana Hong (Hye Seoung Kwon) and Allie Osborne, Associate Concertmaster of the SSO. She continues to freelance as a pianist with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and ‘The Opera and Song Collective’ (TOSC). https://toscartists.com/

Image credit: Kurt Sneddon

AT THE FESTIVAL