Claire Dresselhuis

Canadian-born cellist Claire Dresselhuis is an accomplished chamber musician and educator based out of Fairfield County. Dresselhuis has been a featured artist across North American stages including at Christ Church Victoria’s Young Artists Concert Series, Vancouver Art Gallery’s “Out for Lunch” recitals and Visual Space Art Gallery. Recently awarded a grant from the Musicians Performance Trust Fund, Claire will be showcasing a unique recital program of all women composer music for cello across New England in recognition of National Women’s History Month. She performs with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and is a principal finalist for the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra. As an educator, Claire teaches a studio of cellists at the Westport School of Music, and serves as guest sectional instructor for the Sacred Heart University Orchestra and Greater Connecticut Youth Symphony Orchestra. Her work with Kids Empowered by Your Support (KEYS) in teaching and organizing fundraising concerts seeks to spotlight current students and alumni from this remarkable non-profit.  A notable dimension of Claire’s artistry is found in her love of jazz. She has been fortunate to be mentored by jazz string icons Akua Dixon and Scott Tixier and finds some of her greatest musical freedom when improvising. She often arranges jazz standards for voice and cello, and is a sought-after studio cellist in her home county. Claire holds degrees in music from University of Victoria, BC (B.M), University of North Texas (M.M), and the Hartt School of Music (A.D).