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 while a student of Lucy van Dael graduated from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with a Masters in Performance.  Whilst at the Academy Claire studied with Monica Huggett and Pavlo Beznosiuk and 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 for whom she returned as principal second violinist for a tour with Andrew Manze. As leader, Claire has performed 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 in Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with the Mannheim University Orchestra, 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.  Claire is a recipient of the Arts Council Bursary Award 2007.