Greta Claringbould

Canberra based, Greta Claringbould is a Baroque Soprano at freelance, with extensive performance experience as a soprano soloist of principally baroque oratorio and cantata. Her vocal timbre combines purity and clarity combined with warmth and richness. Her fluent execution of florid baroque coloratura is renowned. Described recently (March 2024) in the Canberra City News – “Claringbould, has a beautiful voice of remarkable purity and precision.”

Greta holds a Bachelor of Music with Honours in Viola Performance, an AMusA in voice, and an ATCL in Violin Performance.  Greta was formerly: a professional orchestral violist, leader of the Violas in the New Zealand National Youth Orchestra, chorister with the Wellington Cathedral Choir, Director of the iconic Canberra Children's Choir, and Head of Choirs at Canberra Girl’s Grammar School where she directed multiple school aged ensembles.  Currently Greta is Principal Soprano Soloist with the Canberra Bach Ensemble, NZ Barok and ensemble Adhoc Baroque and is a private vocal coach.  

Greta’s private vocal pedagogy has focused especially on the development of young, primary aged voices, establishing basic vocal technique, a passion for music across many styles and genres and including initial, early years vocal exam success with Trinity College London and the Australian Music Examination Board.

In 2016, along with alto Maartje Sevenster and harpsichord/continuo player Peter Young, Greta collectively formed the Trio Adhoc Baroque which performs esoteric sacred and secular Baroque chamber works.  Adhoc Baroque gave the antipodean premier of Brunetti's 1764 Stabat Mater in 2017 and performed in both 2018 and 2019 at the prestigious Canonwindra Baroque Festival. Other more recent appearances include as soloist in Bach’s St Matthew Passion and Handel’s Messiah with Canberra Choral Society, Bach’s St John Passion and Handel’s Israel in Egypt with Igitur Nos Chamber Choir, Handel’s Messiah with NZ Barok and the Scholars Baroque Aotearoa, as guest artist with Limestone Consort, Vivaldi’s, Nulla in Mundo Pax Sincera Motet with NZ Barok at their 2024 20th anniversary concert series and as soloist in several Bach Chorale Cantatas at the 2024 Leipzig Bach Festival.

In 2025 Greta very much looks forward to a return to directing two Canberra Children’s Choir ensembles – the Training Choir and Junior Voices, in tandem with continuing her private vocal teaching and various solo performances.