Claire began playing piano and violin at the age of six and whilst at school in Manchester studied piano with David Smith at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Since graduating from the University of Leeds with a degree in English, she has been admitted to the Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music - in both teaching and performance.

Claire is an active member of the committee for Alderley Edge Festival and has a thriving private teaching practice as well as pupils at Manchester High School for Girls and the University of Manchester. She has recently written for Beckus, the quarterly journal of the Malcolm Arnold Society, and attended Clifford Benson's International Summer Course for pianists. Claire regularly adjudicates at festivals and accompanies instrumentalists.