Viola da Gamba

London born gambist Claire Bracher, completed her undergraduate studies with Hille Perl in Bremen Germany, and won a scholarship to complete her postgraduate studies with Reiko Ichise at the Royal College of Music (RCM), London.

At the RCM Claire received the McKenna Baroque Prize. With ensemble Amaranthos, she won first prize at the 2008 Fenton House Chamber Music Competition, reached the final of The York Early Music Young Artists Competition 2007 and in 2010 was interviewed and performed live on BBC Radio 3, The Early Music Show.

Claire currently teaches the RCM viols and consorts, and in 2007 founded and organised the renowned viola da gamba festival - The RCM International Festival of Viols, an event which is held annually at The Royal College of Music, London.

Claire has performed for HRH Prince of Wales at St. James' Palace (2005) and again with Duo Labyrinthe (2011), with the King's Singers (2009) and has performed at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall under the direction and baton of Ton Koopman (2005).

Claire has recorded with Weser Renaissance for Radio Bremen and the label CPO, and 2010 saw the debut CD release of Sound out my Voice with ORLANDOviols.

Claire has performed in numerous festivals including the Innsbruck (Austria) Early Music Festival, the Stockholm (Sweden) EM Festival, the Vaanta (Finland) EM Festival, the Utrecht (Holland) EM Fringe Festival, the Queen Elizabeth Hall (London, UK) and the St. Martin in the Fields EM Festival (London, UK).