Welcome! I’m a flute player and graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, based in the beautiful mountains of Telluride Colorado. I specialize in providing customized live music for weddings and events. With extensive experience and repertoire I can help you find the perfect music to suit your occasion including bespoke arrangements of your favorite songs for an extra personal touch. Nothing is too big or small – just get in touch!
Firstly congratulations on your engagement! Creating the perfect soundtrack for your day is what I love to do best and I’m here to make your life easy and take the worry out of the planning. The flute is a beautiful instrument with an elegant sound that works indoors and out. For added harmony and a bigger sound I also offer a flute and piano duo which is a gorgeous combination. If you aren’t sure how it sounds, pop over to my media page and have a listen to some of my tracks.
What I do:
Solo flute • Flute and Piano duo • Ceremony music • Cocktail hour • Background dinner music • Bespoke arrangements • Handwritten and framed copy of the sheet music of your favorite song - a lovely reminder of your day!
Prices start from $750 depending on length of playing time, number of arrangements, instrument combination or extras. Please do get in touch for details, I’m always happy to work with your budget.
I can provide background music with a perfectly tailored individual program to suit any occasion. The flute can be played acoustically or with amplification, works inside and out, and adds a touch of class to any occasion. I also offer a flute and piano duo which is perfect for a bigger sound. I’ve worked for events big and small all over the world so do get in touch with your enquiries. I’ll help you plan so that all you need to do is enjoy your event!
Classical Music:
Modern Music:
These clips are just a small example of what I can play. Please do email me for a full repertoire list which includes classical, jazz, easy listening, show tunes and pop music. I can also arrange nearly any song that’s special to you. The flute is wonderfully versatile and melodic - if you can hum it then I can play it!
British born I studied in London and played professionally there for 12 years before moving to Telluride in 2016. In London I performed with orchestras, chamber groups, in major shows and for many weddings and events. I played in many iconic concert halls such as The Royal Albert Hall, The National Gallery, Cadogan Hall and The Royal Festival Hall. My career has also taken me on all kinds of other crazy adventures across the globe including playing with orchestras in India and China, coaching the National Youth Orchestra in Kenya, performing for a Royal wedding at the Paris Opera House, a dinner for a Prime Minister and even a bespoke flute quintet in a wind turbine in Amsterdam (seriously!).
My love of adventure also meant I met my husband in New Zealand which in a very roundabout way brought me to Telluride! As well as playing weddings and events in this beautiful place I’m the Executive Director of Telluride Chamber Music and a ski instructor in the winter. When not playing and planning music for all you lovely people I can usually be found cup of tea in hand (yes I know I’m a British stereotype!) or dragging some poor soul (usually my long suffering husband) across the mountains with me. If you want to hear any more about my experiences and qualifications do drop me a line!
“Claire Beard is an extraordinary flutist. Having a flutist like Claire play before and during our wedding ceremony was absolutely lovely. Looking back we wouldn’t have wanted any other kind of music or artist to play during our wedding ceremony. Claire’s elegant, soft, beautiful music made walking down the isle with my dad an even more magical and unforgettable experience. She also took the time to meet with me prior to the wedding day to help me pick out just the right songs and sound I was looking for on our special day. We highly recommend Claire, she is professional, talented and plays beautifully. Having her play is like icing on the cake for any special occasion!
-Kara and Andy Bagnall
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“We LOVED Claire! Her passion, expertise and warm personality made choosing the music an easy and enjoyable part of our wedding planning and she even arranged our favorite song for walking down the aisle. Her playing on the day was so beautiful and had most of the wedding party in tears! We now have a framed copy of the music she arranged for us on the wall and it’s one of our most treasured reminders from our wedding day. I can’t recommend Claire enough to all the potential brides out there.”
-Melanie and Paul Uglow
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“Claire is kind, calm, innately elegant, and full of positive energy- a wonderful addition to any wedding party before you even get to her flute playing which is simply world class. Having her with us on our special day lifted the occasion and leant a classical, timeless glamour. Many of our guests complimented me for having found her. The tunes she helped me select for the occasion were completely appropriate- calming and reflective but also playful and full of joy. Her graceful flute playing really helped set the tone for a beautiful afternoon and I cannot thank Claire enough for bringing her extraordinary talent and wonderful personality to my wedding.
- Kate M
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“When I first spoke to Claire I really wasn’t sure what I wanted for music at our wedding ceremony and feeling a little stressed about it. She was so kind and patient, spending time to help me choose the perfect songs and make sure I was happy and excited. We even found some music from Denmark as that’s where my family’s from. My mom was thrilled! The sound of the flute was stunning in the church where we held our ceremony and Claire was so professional. I’m so pleased we chose Claire and can’t thank her enough.
-Caroline Spodley
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“I was hosting a gallery event and hired Claire to play while the guests were arriving and enjoying the art. Her playing lifted the evening and added elegance and class. I had so many compliments about her. She was a highlight of the evening and I would definitely use her again.
-Pam Willis
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“Claire played for our corporate dinner. Her music selection was spot on for the occasion and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. She is a brilliant flute player and very easy to work with. I would highly recommend her.
-Dave Edgar
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