About

Music has been a part of Claire’s life since she was very young. As an elementary student, she fondly remembers singing with a children’s choir at nursing homes and church events. She began studying piano at age eight and added harp study two years later. As a youth, Claire loved sharing her music and often accompanied church choirs, as well as playing for funerals and weddings.  During high school, Claire earned many musical honors for her harp performance, including performing live in-concert on KING-FM, winning first place in the Washington State Solo & Ensemble Competition, becoming a finalist in the American Harp Society Competition, being featured as an artist in Europe with the Cascade Youth Symphony European Concert Series, and performing as a featured soloist in a concerto competition with the Youth Symphony.  Claire studied harp with ShruDeLi Ownbey at Brigham Young University and continues to study piano with Dr. Stacie Haneline at UNO.

Claire is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), a credential given by the Music Teachers National Association that recognizes a high level of professional competence.   Claire also completed the Royal Conservatory of Music's Teaching Elementary Piano Certificate.  She is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, the Nebraska Music Teachers Association and the Omaha Music Teachers Association. Claire enjoys working with her local piano teacher colleagues and currently Co-Chairs the OMTA Fun(damentals) Fair at UNO.  She teaches piano in her home studio and also as a private piano instructor at Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha.

Claire's students have achieved success in many areas.  At NMTA District Festivals Claire's piano students have earned the highest ratings that are reserved for extraordinarily outstanding performances.  However, Claire's highest priority is for each of her students to identify as a "life-long musician."  Whether a student pursues advanced musical study or not, her goal is that each student will develop a well-rounded appreciation for music and be able to confidently play the piano in any situation.  Her students have the opportunity to participate in local music events in the community and to perform for family and friends several times/year at studio recitals.  

Above all, Claire is a wife and mother to five children.  Her children teach her life lessons, and she continues to learn from them as they grow!