Biography

Clara
Van de Velde

Clara Van de Velde is a French-Belgian-American soprano of rare poise and musical depth. Currently pursuing a Bachelor in Classical Voice Performance at McGill University's Schulich School of Music in Montreal, Canada, Clara performs with rare delicacy and emotional directness, drawing audiences into an intimate world of sound. With a voice of exceptional agility and brilliance, Clara is a natural coloratura soprano, most radiant in the demanding high-register that requires both technical precision and expressive freedom.

Rooted in a childhood shaped by Seattle Opera's Youth Opera Project (2015–2020) and its selective Teen Vocal Studio college-prep program, Clara's voice has been formed through years of rigorous, nurturing mentorship. She has since trained at the New England Conservatory Prep School under Clara Sandler and sung with the NEC Youth Chorale under Erica Washburn. At McGill, Clara studies with acclaimed baritone Brett Polegato and Schulich Singers conductor Jean-Sébastien Vallée.

On stage, Clara has brought to life roles ranging from the trouser role of Hansel in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel with Seattle Opera to the costumed children's operas Wilde Tales, Odyssey, and Robin Hood — revealing a performer who has been at home on professional stages since the age of nine. On a more intimate stage, she excels in the French art song repertoire, bringing particular sensitivity to the works of Poulenc, Debussy, and Fauré, while also championing lesser-known voices such as Eva Dell'Acqua — a hallmark of an artist driven by genuine curiosity rather than convention.

Her achievements have been recognized with the E. Noel Spinelli, C.M. Prize in Music at McGill University (2024), the Voice Department Award from the New England Conservatory Prep School (2024), the Music Department Award from Brookline High School (2024), and an Honorable Mention from the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Puget Sound Chapter (2020).

Fully bilingual in French and English, fluent in Spanish and proficient in Italian, German and Dutch, Clara brings a rare international sensibility to everything she performs.