Clara Rottsolk Joins Duke University Music Faculty

The Duke Department of Music is delighted to welcome Clara Rottsolk to the faculty. An accomplished soprano and sought-after interpreter of early and modern repertoire, Clara brings a wealth of performance experience and artistry to her new role. Known for her expressive style and dedication to teaching, she is eager to share her knowledge and inspire the next generation of musicians. We are excited to have her join our community and look forward to the impact she will make. Read below to learn more about Clara's journey!

For soprano Clara Rottsolk, music has never been just a profession — it has been the fabric of her life since childhood.

“I grew up in a musical family, singing in the choirs my mother and father conducted, studying piano and organ, and playing stop-pulling assistant for my father’s organ duties at church and temple,” she recalls. “I fell in love with playing the flute at age 11, and it was my most serious pursuit in the years that followed. I continued to sing (in the family tradition!) along the way.”

The moment she realized music would be her life’s work came in Seattle, while performing with the youth chorus in a production of Turandot. “Sitting in the wings during Cynthia Haymon’s astonishingly moving performance of ‘Tu che di gel sei cinta,’ I was overwhelmed by the power of her voice, the orchestra, and the production together. Whichever side of the experience I landed on, I knew I had found my place.”

A Foundation in Home and Mentorship

Rottsolk credits her earliest training to her roots. “Growing up in my mother’s Girlchoir taught me so much about the beauty of music, cherishing of female voices, and the deep rewards that come from Doing the Work,” she says. Her first flute teacher, Dorothy Bjarnason, taught her how to practice, listen, and collaborate, while piano teacher Valerie Shields “encouraged improvisation and understanding of the structure of music from the very beginning.”

From there, her studies carried her to the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where she pursued a double performance degree before settling on a Bachelor of Music in Voice with a secondary emphasis in flute. Graduate study followed at Westminster Choir College, where she earned her M.M. in Voice Performance and Pedagogy with Sharon Sweet.

She notes that the rest of her journey "has been through countless mentors and colleagues I’ve worked with through the school of life,” a list that includes Sanford Sylvan, Andrew Megill, Dominique Labelle, Dalton Baldwin, and many more.

Teaching as a Lifelong Practice

When asked about her philosophy as a teacher, Rottsolk shares, “Now this is going to be one of my books one day! Most essentially, my goal is to equip my students to be singers for life. More granularly, I try to foster this with a fact-based and student-centered approach.”

She stresses the importance of trust and respect, creating an environment where students can flourish. “Understanding that we do our best work in trusting and respectful environments, I aim to cultivate creativity and joy in the process, build skills, and collect tools that will help my students carry forward their progress for the rest of our lives.”

Rottsolk hopes her students leave with “the passion, fortitude, skill, and discipline that enable continued growth towards being more effective communicators through their art. I want them to find their people and build community through musical connection.”

And when challenges inevitably arise, she turns them into opportunities. “There are so many ways to focus in (and out) on a challenge—so many possible threads to pull to untangle the knot! We build a gamut of strategies that can take some of the air and anxiety out of perfectionism’s sails and point it towards curious experimentation.”

Drawn to Duke’s Community

Rottsolk says what drew her to Duke was simple: “The students and faculty! I love teaching bright, inquisitive, and motivated folks. To be in a community with colleagues who share those attributes AND devote their time to teaching and making music is inspiring.”

She looks forward to collaborations across campus, including projects with the Duke Symphony Orchestra, Chorale, Wind Symphony, Ciompi Quartet, pianist David Heid, and Duke Chapel. Beyond Durham, her season includes performances with Bach Collegium San Diego and a recording project featuring music by Adam Drese that has not been heard in modern times.

Beyond the Classroom

Offstage, Rottsolk admits to a few “hidden talents.” “Perhaps my most outwardly appreciated non-musical talent is bread baking—I also take great pleasure in fixing things.”

Asked which historical figure she’d most love to share a meal with, her answer comes easily: Pauline Viardot. “As a singer, composer, diplomat’s wife, salon impresario, and 19th-century human social media platform who lived to 89, I can only imagine the stories she would have to share!”

As for the music she never tires of? “Bach. Basically, any Bach. I hear something new every time, and I'm always moved.”

Looking Ahead

As she begins her first year at Duke, Rottsolk is most excited about “getting to know our students and my colleagues, as well as all of the traditions and cultural idiosyncrasies that make Duke singular.”

With her blend of artistry, pedagogy, and passion for community, Clara Rottsolk steps into her new role ready to inspire — and to keep discovering new joys in the music that has always defined her life.