The Western Illinois Museum is pleased to welcome Claire Happel Ashe as a new addition to its staff. As Program Manager, Claire’s role is to develop new programs as well as manage many of the ongoing series.
Claire brings to the Museum a background in organizing performance programs in music and dance that are both thoughtfully conceived and skillfully executed. As a professional harpist, she has received grants from the Illinois Arts Council, Chicago Department of Culture Affairs and Special Events, Urbana Arts & Culture Commission, and the American Harp Society to support performance and recording projects, as well as composer commissions.
Originally from Quincy, Illinois, Claire now lives in Macomb with her husband Whitney Ashe, a jazz pianist and composer, and their son, Sawyer. She was a 2007-08 Fulbright Scholar in Prague and holds degrees in music from Yale University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she also received a BFA in Dance and cognate in historical performance practice.
Director Sue Scott commented, “Claire is bringing a fresh approach to the Museum’s interest in creating engaging programs that offer an educational experience. As a musician, she can build a compelling roster of performers for the Our Front Porch and Blind Swine Speakeasy series. With her interest in building appreciation for musical genres and cultural influences, the Museum will continue to offer unexpected and memorable live music experiences. Claire is a welcome addition to the Museum’s growing team, developing innovative ways to use the renovated “old garage” as a unique program area to engage our community.”