Soloist

Claire Taylor - Soprano

Claire Taylor was born in Manchester and came to Scotland to study music at the University of
Edinburgh in 1995. She graduated with honours in 1999, having studied voice with Eric von Ibler
and violin with Peter Markham.

Claire’s day job is in Health and Social Care, managing teams to support adults with autism and
learning disabilities. Outside work, Claire has a very active musical life.

Claire is an accomplished soprano, having performed a diverse range of roles, from Iris in
Handel’s Semele, to Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, and most recently Truly Scrumptious in
Kelso Opera’s production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! Claire has performed as a soloist in
Waverley Consort’s performances of Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Mass in B minor, Bach’s St Matthew Passion, Brahms’ A German Requiem; St Andrew’s Camerata’s performance of Fauré’s Requiem during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; The Eildon Singers’ annual Christmas concerts;
Finzi’s In Terra Pax with the Abbey Consort; the Melrose Music Festival’s Carmina Burana; and
regularly at Holy Trinity Church Melrose. Claire’s future engagements include 2 performances of
Howard Goodall’s Eternal Light, A Requiem with George Heriot School’s Chamber Choir in
Edinburgh; Schubert’s Mass in G and Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Berwick Arts Choir; and
performances in the Melrose Music Festival with The Melrose Octet. Claire will be performing
the part of Judy Bernly in Kelso Opera’s performances of 9 To 5 The Musical from 19 th to 23 rd
March at the Tait Hall.

Claire is also well known on the Edinburgh and Borders amateur scene as a violinist, playing for
Orchestra of the Canongait, Edinburgh Philharmonic Orchestra and the Borders Chamber
Orchestra. Claire particularly enjoys playing for the local am-dram societies, and leads the pit
band for Edinburgh Showcase, who put on a yearly show to raise money for Macmillan Cancer
Support. In August, Claire completed her 3 rd Macmillan Mighty Hike- a marathon length walk-
and was delighted to raise over £1000 for Macmillan for the third year in a row. This year she
has signed up for an ultra challenge in July, walking 100 kilometres over 2 days.
Claire is the musical director of The Keys To Life Choir, which is a choir for people with a
Learning Disability in the Borders. They enjoyed a successful Christmas concert and are busy
preparing a programme for their Easter concert.

Claire is delighted to be able to both sing and play with the Borders Chamber Orchestra tonight
and is thrilled to be working with Alison Rushworth again.