Claire holds a degree in English and History , University College Dublin, a Diploma in Anglo-Irish Literature , Trinity College Dublin and a Masters degree in Anglo-Irish Literature University College Dublin.
She studied harp in Dublin with Máirín Feiritéar at Sion Hill Convent,Catríona Yeats at The College Of Music, and Denise Kelly at The Royal Academy Of Music.
Claire presents with 1 to 3 harps :an 1850's Erard concert harp, a 1998 Paddy Cafferky Irish harp, and a Camac 'Deborah Henson Conant ' Electric Blue Harp (2017) ..when possible with piano.
Repertoire
1) Claire composes songs for harp and piano :
These are greatly inspired by her childhood home in Dublin once a miniature farm. She lives there now and hosts retreats and small concerts in what was once the farmyard
2) She sets the poetry of WB Yeats and Austin Clarke to music,
3) She performs Irish and Gaelic songs,traditional tunes and Irish dance music.
4) Claire accompanies John Willmott in his reciting of ‘ Oghma’s Tales Of The Trees’ from his book’ Bathing In The Fae’s Breath.
Radio :
Claire has performed on Irish radio in 2018 and live US and Australian radio programmes.
Performances :
All over Ireland including 398 Weddings
National Concert Hall Dublin: lunchtime solo recital 2002, 2005 with Harpists Fionnuala Monks and Madeleine Doherty.. Evening concerts in 2007, 2008, 2009. Solo lunchtime recitals ;2011 2012.2014,2017,2018
U.S.A..:late ‘80’s early ’90’s Claire lived in Florida . and featured extensively in Jacksonville, She opened concerts for 'The Chieftains ' and 'The Furey Brothers' at Florida Theatre Jacksonville and performed at the Florida Folk Festival...approximately 3 times.
Extensive month long tours around the USA March,2009 : 27 concerts in 22 states, and 2012 approx 20 concerts in North West USA. with John Willmott of 'Celtic Ways' .
Australia : 9 tours of Irish Clubs, National Trust Houses,and House concerts. Photos 2018 :
Recordings :
'Dancing In The Wind':poems by WB Yeats set to music. 1998.,
'Out Of The Ordinary':original songs with harp. 1999.
The Lilt Of The Banshee’ :a selection of Celtic music and song. 2000.
An Irish Wedding Ceremony': songs and music for an Irish Wedding. 2000 'Journey With Claire Roche': songs with piano and harp. 2009
‘Songs From The Harp Room’: traditional songs learned at school
‘From Then To The Here And Now’ :piano and harp songs composed between 1971 and 2017.
2018 Reviews
Review in Irish Music Magazine December 2018
Hotpress Music Magazine Winter 2018
The Irish Times October 4th 2018, by Siobhan Long .. not a fan, however :
‘To say that Claire Roche’s music is otherworldly is to state the blatantly obvious .. for sure lurking deep beneath her grandiose musical gestures are echoes of Kate Bush ( circa Wuthering Heights) Joanna Newsom and, regrettably Enya’...