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Clare MacLean is a contemporary Australian composer of classical music. She was born in Sydney in 1964 and grew up in a family of musicians. Her father was a jazz pianist and her mother was a classical pianist, so music was always a part of her life. She began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the violin and viola. MacLean studied music at the University of Sydney, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree with honors. She then went on to study composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where she earned a Master of Music degree. During her studies, she was awarded several prizes and scholarships, including the prestigious Hephzibah Menuhin Memorial Scholarship. MacLean's early works were influenced by the music of Olivier Messiaen and other modernist composers. Her compositions often featured complex rhythms and harmonies, as well as unconventional instrumentation. One of her early works, "The Night Parrot," was inspired by the elusive Australian bird of the same name. The piece features a solo viola accompanied by a chamber ensemble, and was praised for its evocative and atmospheric qualities. In the 1990s, MacLean began to incorporate elements of traditional music into her compositions. She was particularly interested in the music of the Middle East and Asia, and began to study the oud and other instruments from those regions. Her compositions from this period often featured exotic scales and rhythms, as well as improvisation and extended techniques. One of MacLean's most well-known works is "O Oriens," a choral piece based on a text from the Book of Isaiah. The piece was commissioned by the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and premiered in 2000. It has since been performed by choirs around the world and has been praised for its lush harmonies and soaring melodies. Another notable work by MacLean is "A West Irish Ballad," a piece for solo violin and orchestra. The piece was inspired by traditional Irish music and features a virtuosic violin part that incorporates elements of Irish fiddling. The piece has been performed by numerous orchestras and soloists, and has been praised for its energy and lyricism. In recent years, MacLean has continued to explore new musical territories. She has collaborated with musicians from a variety of cultures and has incorporated elements of jazz and other genres into her compositions. Her works have been performed by some of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles, including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and the Kronos Quartet. MacLean's music has been praised for its originality, beauty, and emotional depth. She has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the APRA Art Music Award for Vocal/Choral Work of the Year in 2016. She is widely regarded as one of Australia's most important contemporary composers and continues to inspire audiences and musicians around the world with her innovative and powerful music.

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