Born: January 12, 1997 Primary Instrument: Vocal
13-year-old Claire Dickson's love for singing showed itself early on. When she was six months old, she could be heard humming strands of “Happy Birthday.” At 18 months, it was the Brylcreem jingle, which she picked up from a play her older siblings were performing in. She went on to sing in several choruses, and did her first public solo at the age of three. At five, she opened for the Von Trapp Children at the venerable Club Passim, performing “Zip-a-dee-doo-dah,” “Over the Rainbow,” and singer-songwriter Oen Kennedy's “Loon Song.” At eight, she appeared in the Reagle Players' “Sound of Music” alongside Sarah Pfisterer and John Davidson. She followed that up with a role as the very first Tiny Tim in New Repertory Theatre's production of “A Christmas Carol,” receiving media raves for her performance of “A Child in the Snow,” specially composed by director Rick Lombardo for the show. She is a member of Revels Repertory Company and has performed in several Christmas Revels -- at age nine she filled Cambridge's Sanders Theater with a pure version of “Stille Nacht,” sung from the balcony.She's the daughter of Glenn Dickson, clarinetist/bandleader for Shirim and Naftule's Dream. In late 2008, he loaded an Ella Fitzgerald CD a neighbor was getting rid of onto the family MP3 player. Claire became instantly enamored of Fitzgerald's voice and style. In February of 2009, she began singing jazz. She can be seen on some Tuesdays at the Amazing Things jazz jam in Framingham, and playing weddings or parties with her dad. Claire thanks her teachers, fellow jazz singer Aubrey Johnson, for valuable guidance and inspiration and Dan Fox for his wonderful ensembles. Claire also thanks the great musicians who played on her recording:drummer Eric Rosenthal, bassist Greg Loughman, and pianist Michael McLaughlin. Claire recently won a downbeat student music award for best jazz vocalist.
