Higher Degree by Research Candidate, Griffith University

Claire Burrell-McDonald is a Sydney-based soprano, specialising in early music. She is a regular artist with the professional choirs of St James, King Street and St Mary’s Cathedral: she has also sung with Cantillation, Sydney Antiphony, Luminescence Chamber Singers, Adelaide Chamber Singers, the Song Company LAB and the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance in Canada. She has performed widely as a soloist and ensemble member across Australia and internationally: she appears on recordings with the Choir of St James, King St, Cantillation, Sydney Chamber Choir and Gondwana Chorale. She teaches singing at Sydney Grammar School and Kincoppal-Rose Bay.

Claire is currently undertaking doctoral research into historical vocal technique and vocal performance practice through the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, and as part of the research team on the ARC-funded Discovery Project “Shock of the old: Rediscovering the sounds of bel canto 1700–1900”. As part of her research, she has presented and performed across Australia, Europe and the United Kingdom. She holds postgraduate degrees in Opera and Music Performance from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and in English Literature from the University of Sydney.