Biography
B.M., Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music, summa cum laude
M.M., Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University
Claire Allen is a performing violinist and violin teacher in the Washington, DC area. She is in the first violin section of the Tysons-McLean Orchestra and collaborates in various chamber ensembles with her faculty colleagues at George Mason University’s Community Arts Academy. Highlights from the 2019-2020 season include solo recitals with David Norfrey, faculty chamber performances, and performances with the Tysons-McLean Orchestra. Previous solo recital experiences include performances at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Claire joined the Teaching Artist faculty of Mason Community Arts Academy in 2013, where she teaches a private studio of violinists ages 4 - 18 and serves as the Faculty Coordinator. She developed the curriculum and ensembles for the popular Violin Beginnings, Violin Adventures, Violin Choir and Patriot Violins courses. In the summers, she directs Youth Violin Camp and Violin Bootcamp. She was also guest faculty at Peabody Preparatory’s Allegro Strings camp in 2018 and 2019.
In 2019, Claire was named the Outstanding String Teacher of the Year by the Virginia American String Teachers Association. She has received recognition from the MusicLink Foundation and the American Protege Competition for her work with students in their programs.
Recent student successes include winners in the American Protege Piano & Strings Competition 2019, the Feder Memorial String Competition 2020, and the Mason Community Arts Academy Music Competition. Students have also passed their ASTACAP exams with high marks and routinely achieve superiors in Solo & Ensemble festivals. Claire’s students have successfully auditioned for the Northern Virginia Senior Regional Orchestra, Virginia District XI Junior Orchestra and District XII Senior Orchestra, and several orchestras in the American Youth Philharmonic organization.
Claire is committed to continuing her own education as a violinist and teacher. She attended the Starling DeLay Symposium at The Juilliard School in 2019, the American String Teachers Association National Conference in 2020, and most recently, Nathan Cole’s Summer Violympics online in 2020. Previous pedagogical trainings include Every Child Can and Suzuki Books 1 and 2 at the Greater Washington Area Suzuki Institute in 2007 and 2008, pedagogy courses and private study with Rebecca Henry at the Peabody Institute, and Mimi Zweig's Violin and Viola Teacher Retreat at Indiana University. She also completed leadership training through Contemplative Leaders in Action from 2017-2019.
In addition to performing and teaching, Claire is a writer and advisory board member for Violinist.com, and most recently completed a series covering the Violympics. She has also served as an adjudicator at Mason Community Arts Academy for honors recitals and the music competition, and as an examiner for the ASTACAP (American String Teachers Association Certificate Advancement Program) exams in Virginia as well as nationally.
Claire holds a Master of Music degree from Peabody Conservatory and a Bachelor of Music degree, summa cum laude, from Baldwin-Wallace College. Her primary teachers include Rebecca Henry, Keng-Yuen Tseng, Burton Kaplan, Julian Ross, Lisa Cridge, Gene Pohl, and Estelle Roth. She performs on a modern violin made by Tetsuo Matsuda and a bow made by Richard Grünke.
Students interested in studying with Claire can go to the Teaching page of this website.
M.M., Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University
Claire Allen is a performing violinist and violin teacher in the Washington, DC area. She is in the first violin section of the Tysons-McLean Orchestra and collaborates in various chamber ensembles with her faculty colleagues at George Mason University’s Community Arts Academy. Highlights from the 2019-2020 season include solo recitals with David Norfrey, faculty chamber performances, and performances with the Tysons-McLean Orchestra. Previous solo recital experiences include performances at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Claire joined the Teaching Artist faculty of Mason Community Arts Academy in 2013, where she teaches a private studio of violinists ages 4 - 18 and serves as the Faculty Coordinator. She developed the curriculum and ensembles for the popular Violin Beginnings, Violin Adventures, Violin Choir and Patriot Violins courses. In the summers, she directs Youth Violin Camp and Violin Bootcamp. She was also guest faculty at Peabody Preparatory’s Allegro Strings camp in 2018 and 2019.
In 2019, Claire was named the Outstanding String Teacher of the Year by the Virginia American String Teachers Association. She has received recognition from the MusicLink Foundation and the American Protege Competition for her work with students in their programs.
Recent student successes include winners in the American Protege Piano & Strings Competition 2019, the Feder Memorial String Competition 2020, and the Mason Community Arts Academy Music Competition. Students have also passed their ASTACAP exams with high marks and routinely achieve superiors in Solo & Ensemble festivals. Claire’s students have successfully auditioned for the Northern Virginia Senior Regional Orchestra, Virginia District XI Junior Orchestra and District XII Senior Orchestra, and several orchestras in the American Youth Philharmonic organization.
Claire is committed to continuing her own education as a violinist and teacher. She attended the Starling DeLay Symposium at The Juilliard School in 2019, the American String Teachers Association National Conference in 2020, and most recently, Nathan Cole’s Summer Violympics online in 2020. Previous pedagogical trainings include Every Child Can and Suzuki Books 1 and 2 at the Greater Washington Area Suzuki Institute in 2007 and 2008, pedagogy courses and private study with Rebecca Henry at the Peabody Institute, and Mimi Zweig's Violin and Viola Teacher Retreat at Indiana University. She also completed leadership training through Contemplative Leaders in Action from 2017-2019.
In addition to performing and teaching, Claire is a writer and advisory board member for Violinist.com, and most recently completed a series covering the Violympics. She has also served as an adjudicator at Mason Community Arts Academy for honors recitals and the music competition, and as an examiner for the ASTACAP (American String Teachers Association Certificate Advancement Program) exams in Virginia as well as nationally.
Claire holds a Master of Music degree from Peabody Conservatory and a Bachelor of Music degree, summa cum laude, from Baldwin-Wallace College. Her primary teachers include Rebecca Henry, Keng-Yuen Tseng, Burton Kaplan, Julian Ross, Lisa Cridge, Gene Pohl, and Estelle Roth. She performs on a modern violin made by Tetsuo Matsuda and a bow made by Richard Grünke.
Students interested in studying with Claire can go to the Teaching page of this website.