About this Artist

American oboist Claire Brazeau is recognized as one of the leading soloists of her generation. Since 2017, she’s held the principal chair of the world-renowned Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Claire regularly tours internationally, most recently performing concertos by Mozart, Martinů, and R. Strauss. An active studio musician, Claire has recorded for several film and TV soundtracks, including Call of the Wild and The Mandalorian. Interested in exploring the range and pushing the limits of oboe performance, Claire plays with the period instrument ensemble Musica Angelica and is a member of the new music group Wild Up. Claire is an awarded finalist in the International Gillet-Fox Oboe Competition and has appeared as guest principal with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Lucerne Festival Alumni Orchestra, and the Phoenix Symphony.  

In 2016, she was appointed to the oboe faculty of the Bob Cole Conservatory at California State University Long Beach. Deeply committed to music education, Claire frequently serves as guest clinician at numerous academic institutions. She is on faculty at the YOLA National Festival, a full-scholarship summer youth orchestra intensive spearheaded by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel. Claire’s other festival engagements include the Lucerne Festival Academy, Yale School of Music Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, the New York String Orchestra Seminar, and the Pierre Monteux School. During the 2011/12 season, she served as a Visiting Artist in residence at the American Academy in Rome, Italy. 

Under the tutelage of the LA Chamber Orchestra’s former principal oboist Allan Vogel, Claire received an Artist Diploma from The Colburn School. At Bard College and Conservatory, she earned a triple major with a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian studies and piano performance, and a Bachelor of Music in oboe performance. Her principal teachers at Bard were Laura Ahlbeck and Elaine Douvas; she studied piano with Blair McMillen. 

Affectionately known as @oboejones, Claire enjoys connecting with thousands of oboe fans via her Instagram page, where she shares concert clips, oboe advice, and upcoming performance information.  

Claire plays Marigaux 901 series oboes.