Clara Prinston
Instrument: Violin
Studies:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, BA
Biography:
Haitian-American violinist, Clara Prinston, received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Linguistics and Applied Music from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in December 2020. During her time as a student, she served as the co-founder and co-president of the Black Musicians Alliance, an organization created to champion inclusivity and diversity through the musical arts. As a violinist since the age of 5 years old, Clara has participated in a myriad of artistic opportunities that only a life in music could afford her. Apart from her studies, she has established relationships with professional organizations such as the Marble City Opera, attended festivals including the Wintergreen Summer Music Academy, and collaborated with conductors such as Mei-Ann Chen, Giancarlo Guerrero, Daniel Hege, Victor Yampolsky, Kevin Class, James Fellenbaum, and more. She has received masterclasses from noted violinists including Jinjoo Cho, Cornelia Heard, William Shaub, Elisabeth Adkins, Sharan Leventhal and more. Her primary violin teachers have included Geoffrey Herd, Miroslav Hristov, and Marjorie Garnier. With certifications in the Suzuki Method, Clara is a dedicated teacher. She began giving violin lessons at 14 years old and continued throughout her university years at the Joy of Music School, a nonprofit organization offering free lessons to those who could not otherwise afford them. Passionate about classical music programming, Clara now serves as the Senior Radio Programmer and Announcer for the Afternoon Concert at 91.9FM WUOT, an NPR member station based in Knoxville, TN. With the station’s three state range, she has been able to share important stories not only through the music that she programs, but also through the established artists that she has interviewed including Tessa Lark, Nathalie Joachim, yMusic, and more. Clara plays on a 1986 Alcese Bulfari of Castellione on generous loan from Virtu Foundation.
