Originally from Toronto in Canada, Clara moved to Manchester in 2021 to complete her postgraduate studies, and has since worked as a freelance classical cellist, touring and performing internationally.
Following the crash, she developed a condition which weakened one of her vocal cords after surgery through the front of her neck to treat her spine.
Clara needed speech and language therapy for the vocal cord paresis, and physiotherapy for her other injuries
“The cello is a very physical instrument and at that point I couldn’t even move my body,” she said.
“My mobility and strength have come a long way since the crash and I’m grateful to be able to play the cello again,” she said.
“The first time I was able to sit with my cello again was incredibly emotional.
“Music has always been such a huge part of who I am, so even playing for a few minutes felt like getting a part of myself back,” she added.