Clara Engen, Violin
Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music
Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance
Bachelor of Arts in History
Bard College
Master of Music in Curatorial, Critical and Performance Studies
Suzuki Method Training
Book 1 with James Hutchins
Book 2 with Daniel Gee Cordova
Books 3 & 4 with Nancy Jackson
Clara Engen maintains a varied career as a performer, teacher and advocate for the arts. Clara is a graduate of Oberlin College and Conservatory with dual Bachelor’s degrees in violin performance and history; she earned her masters as an orchestral fellow with The Orchestra Now at Bard College. Clara’s passion for sharing classical music has led her to make musical connections across the world. She has taught and performed with the National Concert Association of Panamá, served as a teaching artist with Cuerdas Para Cali, a Bard College residency in Colombia, and was a Teaching Fellow with MusAid Organization in Belize. In the U.S., she has worked with students of all ages, from children as young as age 3 through adults, and levels in a variety of settings—private lessons, group classes, and chamber music ensembles. In addition to her teaching work, Clara has also written $100,000 in successful grant applications for music organizations, and previously served as the Operations Director for the ENCORE Chamber Music Institute in Gates Mills, Ohio.
Clara completed her Suzuki teacher training under the tutelage of James Hutchins, Daniel Gee Cordova, and Nancy Jackson. Her violin students have been accepted into competitive collegiate programs such as Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Berklee College of Music / Boston Conservatory, East Carolina University, and Boston University. She is a strong believer in the benefits of Suzuki musical education to foster curiosity and courage in students of all ages and levels.