ABOUT
Growing up in West Wales, I began learning violin with my dad, a gypsy-jazz style violinist. My composing career began aged 16 writing for O Duo percussion ensemble, and I maintained an active interest in composition during my time at Oxford University under the tutelage of Martyn Harry. Awarded the Elizabeth Williams scholarship, I undertook a masters in Violin Performance at the Royal Northern College of Music and am currently completing a PhD in Composition as part of the Parry Williams scholarship scheme at Bangor University. My vocal training has continued with Nick Powell, and when I'm not composing, I sing jazz, play folk music, freelance as a classical violinist and write for Music Teacher Magazine. I also have experience facilitating workshops for young people in both Welsh and English, and writing arrangements for beginner strings. Below is a biography and headshots suitable for press and programmes.
Claire Victoria Roberts: Biography
Described as ‘one of Wales's leading composers’ by Wales Arts Review, Claire Victoria Roberts's music has been performed by BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Psappha Ensemble, cellist Oliver Coates, trumpeter Simon Desbruslais, harpist Anne Denholm, The Clothworkers' Consort of Leeds and the Orion Orchestra.
Claire is the Winner of a Royal Philharmonic Society Composition Prize 2019-2020, as well as an Adopted Composer for Camden Symphony Orchestra. She was also 2017 winner of the Mathias Composition prize, and 2016 winner of the Parry Williams award.
Outside of the concert hall, Claire's music revolves around collaborative processes and curation. In 2015 Claire curated her first work alongside spoken word artist Harry Jelley as part of a celebration of the Victoria Baths in Manchester. They went on to create a work for queer rave RITE held at Islington Mill in Manchester, bringing ten operatic sopranos to a city nightclub. She has also collaborated with photographers for an exhibition she co-curated in 2016, and with folk group Don't Feed the Peacocks for a cross-genre work in 2018. 2019 saw her orchestral work 'Blue Lab' featuring at the Vale of Glamorgan Festival for its third live performance, and, retaining her Welsh link, she returned to Cardiff earlier this year to create a dance piece with Hijinx Theatre, a group of actors with learning disabilities. Her RPS commission involves making her Wigmore Hall debut with a jazz song cycle written for vocal-piano duo Liselotte Osblom and Rupert Cox.
As a performer, Claire has played across Europe with the UK's No.1. Western Swing band, The Swing Commanders, recorded with the likes of Olly Murs, Gabrielle Aplin and Radio 1's Live Lounge artists, and performs regular classical recitals with pianist Tom Kimmance. Her debut vocal album Cheating Hearts, featuring her arrangements, original songs and old-time fiddle playing, was released in January 2020.
