Meet the New Students: Claire Thai

Claire Thai is a harpist from Tucson, Arizona.  She has just entered Curtis as an undergraduate, and began studying the harp when she was only five years old, having already started the piano at age three. Claire has won several important competitions, and gave a solo recital at the World Harp Congress in 2017. Claire is creative in other ways, too: she is a composer and last year scored a film for the Vail Preservation Society; and she builds her own computers. Here she shares her enthusiasm about Curtis, where she has already played in several readings and rehearsals as a member of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra. Claire is studying with Philadelphia Orchestra principal harp Elizabeth Hainen. Join us in welcoming Claire and all of our new students to the Curtis family!

What has been your most important musical experience until now?
When I performed the final movement of the Ginastera harp concerto with the Phoenix Symphony. There is nothing more exciting or inspiring than performing one of my favorite pieces with such an amazing orchestra.

How did you hear about Curtis, and what are you looking forward to most?
I’ve wanted to attend Curtis from a very young age. I am really looking forward to working on chamber music here; I’ve never had the opportunity to perform much chamber music before.

What has it been like to play with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra?
I love being a part of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra! It is so inspiring to be able to play in a group of such amazing musicians and to hear the incredible musicality and attention to detail they all put into their music.