Claire Brazeau brings fearless artistry and a vibrant spirit to the oboe, whether performing as principal oboist of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, recording for blockbuster film scores, or mentoring the next generation of musicians. Known for her expressive playing and versatility, she thrives as a soloist, chamber musician, and educator. She is also a sought-after studio musician, contributing oboe and English horn to film and television scores such as Avatar: The Way of Water, The Mandalorian, and Encanto.

A musician with wide-ranging interests, Claire enjoys exploring the oboe’s many musical identities. She is the founder and Artistic Director of the Virtual Oboe Competition, which she launched in 2020 to provide young oboists with performance opportunities during the Covid-19 shutdowns. She also performs with Musica Angelica, bringing historical performance to life on period instruments, and is a member of Wild Up, a Grammy-nominated new music collective known for its bold, adventurous programming.

A finalist in the International Gillet-Fox Oboe Competition, Claire has appeared as a substitute principal oboist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Pasadena Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, Lucerne Festival Alumni Orchestra, and the Phoenix Symphony. She has performed at festivals including the Lucerne Festival Academy, Yale School of Music Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, the New York String Orchestra Seminar, Pierre Monteux School, Bravo! Vail, and the Ojai Music Festival. During the 2011–2012 season, she was a Visiting Artist at the American Academy in Rome.

Since 2017, Claire has been a faculty member at the Bob Cole Conservatory at California State University, Long Beach, where she is deeply committed to mentoring oboists and fostering a supportive, engaging learning environment. She also teaches privately and enjoys working with oboists of all levels to help them develop their unique artistry.

Claire earned an Artist Diploma from The Colburn School, studying with Allan Vogel, and a triple major from Bard College and Conservatory, earning degrees in oboe performance, piano performance, and East Asian Studies. Her principal oboe teachers at Bard included Laura Ahlbeck and Elaine Douvas, and she studied piano with Blair McMillen.

Affectionately known as @OboeJones, Claire shares performance clips, oboe insights, and behind-the-scenes moments with thousands of followers on Instagram. When she’s not performing or teaching, she enjoys skiing, hiking, and camping.

Claire performs on Marigaux 901 series oboes.