Claire Griffin

Claire Griffin has been characterized as a classical vocalist, soloist, and recitalist, but her treasured designation is "storyteller." Striving to become a well-rounded “singing actress,” Griffin is in pursuance of her Master’s of Music as a member of the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute. She trains here under the guidance of Dr. Marilyn Taylor.

A North Carolina local, the triad-based soprano hails from Brevard in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In 2022, Griffin completed her Bachelor of Music at UNC Greensboro where she studied with Carla LeFevre and coached with Arlene Shrut. During her undergraduate years, she was a winner of the 2022 UNCG Concerto Competition and appeared as a soloist with the UNCG Symphony Orchestra. She performed the operatic roles of Marie ("The Bartered Bride"), Adele ("Die Fledermaus"), Suor Genovieffa ("Suor Angelica"), Gretel ("Hansel und Gretel"), Lucy ("The Telephone"), Lauretta ("Gianni Schicchi") and Jenny Slade ("Roman Fever"). Additionally, Griffin participated in UNCG Opera Theatre’s outreach program that brings short operas for children to local elementary schools.

Griffin spent her 2022 summer at the Aspen Music Festival as a Studio Artist in their Opera Theatre and VocalARTS program. Amongst talented colleagues, she worked closely with Carol Vaness and Rachelle Flemming singing in operas, scenes (opera and musical theatre), song recitals, donor performances and numerous masterclasses. She joined the Utah Vocal Arts Academy in 2021, where she performed Eurydice in a new translation of Offenbach’s "Orphée aux enfers" under the baton of Michaella Calzaretta.

In January of 2023, Griffin received an Encouragement Award in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition’s N.C. District auditions. She was named a finalist in the 2021 Opera Grand Rapids VanderLaan Prize competition. She is a 2018 YoungArts winner in Voice and was the recipient of their Silver Award for Voice that same year. Griffin had the honor of being named a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts Semifinalist, also in 2018.

Before beginning her exploration into operatic repertoire, Griffin was featured in the world premiere of new musical "Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz" where she sang the role of 1930s singer Deanna Durbin. After debuting this role in 2015, she stayed with the project as it continued to the Goodspeed Opera House where she also covered the role of Judy Garland in 2016. She has participated in numerous NYC readings/stagings of "Chasing Rainbows" and has worked under directors Tyne Rafaeli, Jeff Whiting and Dennis Jones.