Claire Bourg, 16, is a scholarship recipient and member of the Music Institute of Chicago’s Senior Academy program for gifted pre-college musicians, where she studies privately with MIC artist faculty member Cyrus Forough.  She is a junior at Metea Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois.

Claire began studying the violin at age five and is currently a principal violinist for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and concertmistress of the Metea Valley Chamber Strings Orchestra.  Claire has received many awards and accolades for her playing and was recently awarded first prize in the Confucius Competition. 

In 2011, she was selected to perform with the Chicago Youth in Music Festival orchestra under the direction of Riccardo Muti and her string quartet was selected to perform onstage with Yo-Yo Ma at Chicago’s Symphony Center.  Claire has performed as a featured soloist in many camps and festivals including the Bowdoin International Music Festival and the Indiana University Summer Strings Academy.   She has participated in master classes led by the Ying Quartet and the Beethoven Project Trio.

In her spare time, Claire enjoys playing golf, traveling, teaching violin and performing in community outreach concerts.

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