Claire's father was a clarinettist, her mother was a piano teacher and church organist, and her older sister was an accomplished flutist and pianist, so music was an integral part of her life from childhood. 

    In elementary school she was part of the award winning Northeast Atlanta Elementary band that travelled to  several cities playing for conventions and demonstrating what an elementary band could do.  Claire played clarinet, English horn and oboe during those years.  In high school she studied with Joseph Robinson, who went on to be principal oboe with the New York Philharmonic. She won a city- wide audition to receive a full scholarship to the Brevard Summer Festival where whe sat first chair while still in high school.

   In high school she also was the piano accompanist for her school choir.  Accompanying has been an ongoing activity for her; she has accompanied singers, instrumentalists, ensembles, and choirs since then.

     She has taught in various private schools in the last 30 years, covering elementary, junior high and high school.  She enjoys teaching math and reading, and has taught ESL to foreign students as well.