Claire Duff

Claire Duff is an internationally acclaimed violinist, in demand as a soloist, chamber musician, leader and director. Claire has worked as Director of the Irish Baroque Orchestra and the Irish National Opera, while also nurturing emerging talent as the Artistic Director of the award-winning Irish Youth Baroque Orchestra. Claire is Associate Leader of the Irish Baroque Orchestra, with whom she has performed and recorded as soloist to critical acclaim for over twenty years.

Claire has worked as leader of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, under the batons of Sinkovsky, Hill and Davies. Her leadership extends across prestigious baroque ensembles such as Florilegium, I Fagiolini, and The King's Consort and she has co-led the Academy of Ancient Music, The English Concert and The Sixteen.

Claire was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) in London in 2016 and received the Arts Council of Ireland Bursary Award in 2021. In 2022, Camerata Kilkenny earned the prestigious Jurica Murai prize at the Varazdin Baroque Festival in Croatia and received the following review from the jury: "Virtuoso violinist Claire Duff has a particularly high level of artistic preparation. Her way of playing music, technical bravura and way of conducting each of the interpretations are truly exemplary."

Claire has had many solo works composed for her including pieces by Jane O Leary and Sam Perkins (The Copy and the Original performed with Diane Daly). She teaches baroque violin and historically informed performance at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.