In 2008 the Foundation announced young lyric soprano Claire Egan as the winner of the Laurie Coon Foundation Scholarship which enabled her to take up an invitation to study at the prestigious Cardiff International Academy of Voice. 

In 2009 with the assistance of the Manchester Trust the Foundation made further grants to enable Claire to attend the 2009 Solti Te Kanawa Accademia and to complete her course in Cardiff.

Claire completed her studies in Cardiff and is now based in London. She has covered the role of Konstanze (Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail) for the Garsington Opera Festival and also performed the role in for a fringe opera company in London. Other roles include Violetta (La Traviata) Queen of the Night and Pamina (The Magic Flute) and the role of Violetta (La Traviata) at the Theatre an der Wien as part of the Vienna Festival. 

Other highlights include being an English National Opera Works Artist, touring Malaysia singing Violetta (La Traviata) for PJ Live Arts, winning the 28^th Premio Lirico Internazionale Piero Boni competition in Mantua Italy, performing the role of Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) at the Soho Theatre in London, and performing the roles of Bretonne & Deux Adolescent on the main stage of the Wexford Opera Festival in Ireland.  www.claireegan.com