Clara Galea started taking flute lessons at the age of eight with Ramona Zammit Formosa at the Johann Strauss School of Music, as well as with Mro Silvio Zammit. She obtained the DipABRSM in flute performance and in 2012 was awarded the Ian Tomlin Napier/Malta Scholarship to further her studies at Edinburgh Napier University. She has recently finished the four-year BMus (Hons) course, where she was taught by flautist Andrea Kuypers and also by Dr Katrina Burton to produce her final year dissertation. Clara is also a graduate of the University of Malta as she obtained the Diploma in Design Foundation Studies in 2012.
Clara has performed in a variety of concerts and events, both locally and abroad. Her most recent performances include those with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland on their 2015 tour to China and with the orchestra of Scottish Opera Connect in Glasgow, where she played alongside professional Scottish Opera musicians. Clara’s local orchestral experience includes performances with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Malta Youth Orchestra and the Junior College Orchestra. Between 2010 and 2012, Clara was also a member of the England-based International Youth Orchestra BISYOC, also forming part of its organisational team during its course in Malta in 2012. In 2009 and 2010, she took part in the Malta Young Musicians Competition, winning second and third place consecutively, while in 2010 and 2011 Clara was chosen as a reserve player with the European Union Youth Orchestra.
Clara has had a variety of performances in Edinburgh and has formed part of a wide range of ensembles. She has performed with the Edinburgh Napier Chamber Orchestra, the Edinburgh University Sinfonia, Tinderbox Orchestra, Flutes Unlimited Flute Choir and the Edinburgh Napier Recorder Consort. Smaller ensembles include the Edinburgh Napier Flute Ensemble, a flute and guitar duo with Euan Corstorphine and Duo Aulos, a Maltese UK-based flute duo with Laura Cioffi, with whom she has shared numerous performances both locally and abroad. Aside from flute performace, Clara also enjoys choral singing and has had varied performances with the Edinburgh Napeir Chamber Choir, the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union and the St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church Choir, where she currently holds a choral scholarship. Clara intends to further her academic studies at the University of Edinburgh, where she has been offered a place on the Masters in Musicology course commencing this September 2016.