Introducing Claire!

You will notice, and I definitely hope you all do, that a portion of these interviews are from women I met in the Miss America Organization. I love my MAO sisters! Today, you will get to hear from the kind-spirited and talented Claire as we talk about her journey with the violin!

1. How long have you been playing the violin?

I’ve been playing the violin since I was in first grade - so 18 years! I was inspired by my older brothers to start playing and never stopped!

2. What is one of your favorite violin performances?

To date, my favorite performance was this past June on the Miss Iowa stage! I love being able to show off my craft and all the different styles of playing there are. Violin is so versatile! I’ve played classical, modern, fiddle, you name it! It’s part of what makes the instrument so great.

3. How has learning to play the violin impacted your life and the person you've become?

Learning how to play the violin taught me that in order to improve, I’ll make a few mistakes along the way. When I first began playing I remember being frustrated a lot with myself, but I learned to give myself grace. This is a lesson I carry with me in my daily life when things can get overwhelming and stressful.

4. If you had a free plane ticket to anywhere in the world, where would you go?

If I had a free plane ticket, I’d go to Greece! It’s somewhere I’ve wanted to visit ever since sixth grade when we learned about the history of the country.