Oboist Clara “Freddie” Blood enjoys her life as a versatile performer and educator with over fifteen years of experience who engages audiences with performances in solo, chamber music, and orchestral settings throughout the greater Austin area. She served as an Oboist with the Navy Fleet Bands from 2017- 2022 and completed tours with Navy Band Southwest in San Diego, CA. and Navy Band Great Lakes in Great Lakes, IL.

While stationed in San Diego Clara served as Adjunct Professor of Oboe at the University of San Diego and MiraCosta College. Clara completed a doctorate in Oboe Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Texas at Austin in 2016, where she served as the Oboe Studio Teaching Assistant. Clara performs as a substitute musician with the San Diego Symphony and frequently appears with the California Chamber Orchestra and Strauss Symphony of America. She has also performed with the New World Symphony, Austin Symphony, and the West Point Band.

Clara earned her Bachelor of Music Performance degree at Rice University and Master of Music in Orchestral Oboe Performance at the Manhattan School of Music before beginning her Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Texas. Outside of music Clara enjoys CrossFit, running marathons, and cooking.