Clare Semes has been a member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra violin section since 2017. Before moving to Canada, she was a fellow at the New World Symphony in Miami Beach. Originally from the Philadelphia area, Clare received her Bachelor and Masters of Music degrees from The Juilliard School where she studied with Donald Weilerstein, Ronald Copes, and Laurie Smukler.

In addition to serving as a concertmaster of the New World Symphony, she has served as concertmaster of The Juilliard Orchestra and the Verbier Festival Orchestra, and continues to perform with the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra in Switzerland. As soloist, she has appeared with numerous orchestras, including the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, the Riverside Symphonia, the Spoleto Festival Chamber Orchestra, and the Newark Symphony Orchestra, among others.

Clare’s diverse musical interests have led her to performances beyond the traditional concert hall. Highlights include performing at a New York City Fashion Week show for Chloe Sevigny’s Opening Ceremony collection and playing the US national anthem for a Mets game at Citifield.

In her spare time, Clare enjoys long distance running and spending time with her labradoodle, Theo.