Clare Lesser studied performance and musical history at Birmingham University and Birmingham Conservatoire before undertaking research at the University of Susex into the music of B.A. Zimmermann. She studied with Linda Hirst, and has taken part in master-classes with Annette Merriweather and Françoise Kubler.

She has sung throughout Europe including at the Gaudeamus and Avignon International Festivals. Her repertoire focuses on the work of post-war composers from Cage to Dillon to Stockhausen. In 2003, Clare was nominated for the Royal Philharmonic Society Singing Prize.