Claire Habbershaw is an award winning British pianist & musical director, who specialises in art song, opera and musical theatre repertoire. She is an international recitalist, concert curator and recording artist. She has performed both internationally and in the UK at major concerts halls, venues and festivals with some of the worlds finest singers.

Claire is the regular pianist for world renowned tenor Charles Castronovo and has partnered him in numerous recitals abroad and in the UK. She has recorded art songs from the Belle Époque period alongside Castronovo for their debut album, which will be released in Spring 2026 with Naxos/Orfeo. She regularly partners world renowned counter tenor James Laing and they premièred major living composer Ian Venables’s piece, “Little Old Cupid”, in 2025. Claire is passionate about promoting British Art Songs and she frequently collaborates with Ian Venables on projects and concerts. Claire has performed "Out of Winter" in the presence of the composer, Jonathan Dove, as part of his 60th birthday celebrations and gave the live performance première of major composer Ivor Gurney's solo piano piece "Autumn". She has performed in major music festivals and concert halls, both abroad and throughout the Uk, including performances for high ranking officials such as the Lord Mayor Of London and members of the Royal Family. Her other regular duo partners with whom she performs a variety of Song programmes are British singers, soprano Susanna MacRae and mezzo soprano Rachel Roper, and she will begin a new collaboration with American bass baritone DeAndre Simmons in late 2025. Claire is the creator of Keys To The Masters - a series of interviews published on YouTube and Spotify, where she asks top performing specialists about their creative subjects.

Claire completed her Artist Masters in piano accompaniment with distinction at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she was a Guildhall Scholar. Claire was the Junior Fellow in Piano Accompaniment at Guildhall, where she is now a staff pianist & often engaged as a musical director for a variety of different projects and performances, as well as a tutor on their short courses. She previously studied as a Trinity London Scholar at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where she won every duo Song prize available and was furthermore awarded the Founders Prize for Piano Accompaniment and the Raymond Russell Prize for Harpsichord. 

As a musical director, Claire is regularly sought after for her collaborative expertise, working with acclaimed theatre directors such as John Haidar, Izzy Rabey and Walter Meierjohann. She plays music in a variety of genres including musical theatre and pop music for some of the worlds leading performers within these industries.

A dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, Claire enjoys unrestricted access to work across the UK and the EU Schengen Area. Claire is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Coopers, reflecting her contributions to the cultural life of London.