The soprano, Claire Surman, was born in London and graduated with a first class honours degree in Music, Psychology and Education from the University of Keele. She has been studying at the Royal College of Music since 1999 under the tutelage of Kathleen Livingstone and recently won a  Scholarship supported by a Leverhulme Award to study at the Benjamin Britten International Opera School at the Royal College of Music.  Her studies are also generously supported by scholarships from the Wingate Foundation and the Sir James Caird Trust.  Claire has had a number of recents competition successes, including winning the Lies Askonas Prize, the Agnes Nicholls Harty Trophy and the Ted Moss Lieder Prize. 

Whilst at the College, Claire has performed a number of roles, including Mathilde (Guillaume Tell), Zaide (Zaide), Agathe (Der Freischütz), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus) and Ilia (Idomeneo) in opera scenes at the Britten Theatre, London. She recently understudied Helena (A Midsummer Night's Dream) for the BBIOS production directed by John Copley, and sang the role of Daughter of Zion for London Handel Society/BBIOS staged world premiere of Handel Brockes Passion. She is currently singing with the Glyndebourne Festival Chorus for the 2002 Season before returning to the Royal College of Music in September.

 Claire performs regularly both as a recitalist and with choral groups. Recent performances have included a recital of Strauss Lieder at St-Martin-in-the-Fields, a CD recording and tour of the Czech Republic with Brahms Requiem and performances of J.S. Bach Magnificat in D and Christmas Oratorio, Haydn Harmoniemesse and Nelson Mass, Saint-Saens Christmas Oratorio, Handel Jephtha and Messiah, Weber Mass in Eb, Orff Carmina Burana and Beethoven Symphony No. 9. She was also the soprano soloist for the British Federation of Young Choir's in a performance of Haydn Creation under Brian Kay.

 She has participated in masterclasses with Sir Thomas Allen, Sir Donald McIntyre, Thomas Hampson, Sarah Walker, Philip Langridge, Gerald Finley, Jennifer Smith, Roger Vignoles and Graham Johnson and recently took part in a choral masterclass for BBC Television at the Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House under Andrew Parrott, Sir David Willcocks and Terry Edwards.