Musician Bio

Claire Thai is an internationally recognized harpist, recently appointed as principal harpist of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra by music director designate Jun Markl. Claire’s career as a soloist has garnered her numerous international accolades, including 1st place at both the Suoni d’Arpa competition in Italy and the International Portuguese Harp Competition, along with an Anne Adams and Lyon and Healy award. She also claimed 1^st place at the American Harp Society National Competition. As an orchestral harpist, Claire frequently performs with the Philadelphia Orchestra as a substitute harpist and was a fellow at both the National Repertory Orchestra and the Aspen Music Festival and School.

Deeply committed to expanding the harp repertoire, Claire is also a dedicated composer. In 2022, she was commissioned to write and perform a harp concerto with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra to be performed in conjunction with the Mozart Flute and Harp Concerto.  Her solo recitals often feature transcriptions of her favorite keyboard pieces, and she has premiered numerous solo works by Curtis composers. Most recently, she commissioned a work for harp and violin by Alistair Coleman for her Master’s graduation recital.

She has frequently appeared as a soloist with orchestra; some of her most notable performances include the Ginastera Harp Concerto with the Phoenix and Tucson Symphony Orchestras, multiple performances of her own Concerto for Harp and Orchestra alongside the Mozart Flute and Harp Concerto with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro and Debussy’s Danses Sacree et Profane with the National Repertory Orchestra.

Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Claire began studying harp at age 5 and piano at age 4. She has worked with numerous internationally recognized harpists such as Elizabeth Hainen, Nancy Allen, Carrol McLaughlin, Christine Vivona, and Lynne Aspnes. Claire holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in harp performance from the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied under Elizabeth Hainen, principal harpist of the Philadelphia Orchestra.