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Ann Cleare is a contemporary classical music composer and performer from Ireland. She was born in 1983 in County Offaly, Ireland, and grew up in a musical family. Her father was a traditional Irish musician, and her mother was a singer. Cleare began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the clarinet and saxophone. Cleare studied music at University College Cork, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 2005. She then went on to earn a Master of Music degree from the University of York in England in 2006. In 2010, she completed a PhD in music composition at Harvard University in the United States. Cleare's music is known for its experimental and unconventional approach. She often incorporates elements of noise, silence, and extended techniques into her compositions. Her work has been described as "sonically adventurous" and "visceral." Cleare has received numerous awards and honors for her work as a composer. In 2012, she was awarded the Staubach Honorarium from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 2015, she was awarded the prestigious Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation Composers' Prize. She has also been a recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship and the Radcliffe Institute Fellowship. Cleare's music has been performed by some of the world's leading ensembles and orchestras, including the London Sinfonietta, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. She has also been commissioned to create works for a variety of festivals and institutions, including the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the Gaudeamus Muziekweek, and the Tanglewood Music Center. One of Cleare's most notable works is her 2016 composition "Eyam IV," which was commissioned by the London Sinfonietta. The piece is named after the village of Eyam in England, which was quarantined during a plague outbreak in the 17th century. The composition incorporates elements of silence and stillness, as well as the sounds of bells and cymbals. Another notable work by Cleare is her 2018 composition "To Another of That Other," which was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic. The piece features a solo violinist who interacts with the orchestra in a series of improvisational exchanges. The work was praised for its "dramatic intensity" and "unpredictable twists and turns." Cleare is also an accomplished performer, and has performed as a clarinetist and saxophonist with a variety of ensembles. She has performed at festivals and venues around the world, including the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the Tanglewood Music Center, and the Royal Irish Academy of Music. In addition to her work as a composer and performer, Cleare is also a respected educator. She has taught at a number of institutions, including Harvard University, Trinity College Dublin, and the Royal Irish Academy of Music. She is currently a lecturer in music at the University of York. Cleare's music has been praised for its originality and its ability to push the boundaries of contemporary classical music. She has been described as a "fearless" composer who is unafraid to take risks and explore new sonic territories. Her work has been compared to that of other experimental composers such as John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen. Overall, Ann Cleare is a highly respected and influential figure in the world of contemporary classical music.

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