Claire Ward
Soprano


About
Claire is a British/Irish soprano based in London. In 2023 Claire looks forward to working with City Music Foundation, curating a series of baroque projects and joining the Monteverdi Choir apprentice scheme. She will also continue her work with Live Music Now and Opera Prelude on a variety of outreach projects and residencies.
A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme, Claire is currently a Young Artist with Opera Prelude. In the summers of 2021 and 2022 she performed with Opera Holland Park in the chorus of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and in the role of Frantik in The Cunning Little Vixen. In 2019 Claire understudied the role of Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro at The Grange Festival, and during the same year sang Venus in John Blow’s Venus and Adonis with the Royal Academy of Music.
An avid linguist and lover of French song, Claire made her Oxford Lieder debut with pianist Guy Murgatroyd in 2019, returning to the festival in 2021. She has a growing interest in translation since her studies at the Conservatoire de Toulouse and in 2022 devised a popular lecture recital exploring translating opera for Opera Prelude.
Claire performed Bach Cantatas as part of the Snape Maltings Proms 2019, conducted by Philippe Herreweghe and as a student, regularly performed in the Kohn Foundation/RAM Bach Cantata series with solo highlights of Bach’s Wedding Cantata BVW 202 in June 2017 and Mass in F major in October 2018. Further concert highlights include Poulenc Gloria, Brahms Requiem, Smyth Mass in D, Macdowall Magnificat, Haydn Nelson Mass as well as Mozart Exultate Jubilate and Mass in C Minor in De Montfort Hall, Leicester.
When not singing, Claire loves swimming and is an amateur triathlete.
Upcoming Events

Wednesday 18th January 2023, 1pm
City Music Foundation Lunchtime Recital Series: Handel’s Europe
The Great Hall, Barts’ Heritage
https://citymusicfoundation.org/product/events/lunchtime-concert-claire-ward/
Saturday 28th January, 7pm
Handel’s Europe
St. George’s Church, Westcombe Park
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/handels-europe-tickets-467128833917
Saturday 4th February, 7pm
Handel’s Europe
University College, Oxford
Tickets on the door
Tuesday 7th February, 6.30pm
Opera Prelude: Charms and Torments of Love: the intimacy of Baroque
The Christ Church, Chelsea
https://operaprelude.org/whats-on/2022/12/8/handel-the-european
Listen and Watch
Recent Events
Saturday 12th November, 7pm
Reflection and Remembrance: Requiems by Fauré and Charpentier
Figure Ensemble: Choir and step-out soloist
Union Chapel, London
November 2022 – January 2023
Live Music Now Residency
Performer and Workshop Leader
Weekly private events
November – December 2022
Opera Prelude Schools workshops
Performer and Workshop leader
Various private dates
Thursday 1st December, 6pm
Opera Prelude: A Christmas Concert
with Henley schools
Christchurch, Henley
Saturday 3rd December, 7pm
Nevill Holt Opera: Handel’s Messiah
Choir and step-out soloist
Nevill Holt Theatre
Sunday 4th December, 3pm
Nevill Holt Opera: Handel’s Messiah
Choir and step-out soloist
The Monastery, Manchester
Saturday 10th December, 7.30pm
Poulenc, Gloria: Thames Philharmonic Choir
Soprano soloist
All Saints Church, Kingston upon Thames