CLAIRE DUFF

Internationally renowned baroque violinist Claire Duff is in demand as soloist, chamber musician, leader and director. Her ‘stylish solo violin playing’ (Gramophone) has been described as having ‘all the excitement of a high-wire act’ (The Irish Times). In 2016 she was elected Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, London (ARAM) for her significant contribution to the music profession. Claire is Associate Leader of the Irish Baroque Orchestra with which she regularly performs as soloist and often as

director, to critical acclaim. She has led Florilegium, I Fagiolini, English Touring Opera, The Kings Consort and Camerata Kilkenny and co-led the Academy of Ancient Music and The English Concert. Claire has an extensive discography, including a highly acclaimed CD of Bach’s Double Violin Concerto with Monica Huggett and IBO.

 

Claire is passionate about baroque music and is a fervent exponent of period instrument performance. She is Artistic Director of the Irish Youth Baroque Orchestra and teacher of baroque violin at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Claire has had many solo works composed for her including pieces by Karen Power, Eoghan Desmond and Sean Doherty. In 2019 Jane O’Leary composed ‘Fantasia’ as part of a Music Network Bach recital tour with the award-winning French harpsichordist Benjamin Alard, and Sam Perkins composed a piece for modern and baroque violin for Claire and Diane Hunka as part of the Killaloe Chamber Music Festival.