Anna Claire Ballard-Ayoub has performed with the Fort Worth Symphony, Germantown Symphony, and Delaware Symphony Orchestra. In 2004, Anna Claire was the solo bassoonist on the Washington National Cathedrals recording of Stale Kleibergs Requiem for the victims of Nazi persecution. She studied with Christopher Piecuch, Nancy Lutes, Kathleen Reynolds, and Phillip Kolker and received her Bachelor of Music in bassoon at the University of North Texas and her Masters of Music in bassoon at the Peabody Conservatory. Anna Claire began playing the bassoon in her native Tennessee during her teenage years and grew up playing the violin and piano as well. In addition to performing and teaching, Anna Claire owns a reed making business that provides reeds to students and teachers across the United States.