Although Claire Noelle James isn’t an Omaha native, her passion for nurturing the Omaha community through Sound Bites, an immersive culinary experience that melds music and fine dining, makes her seem like a local. Originally from Durango, Colorado, the 28-year-old flautist relocated in 2022 to pursue a master’s degree in music at the University of Nebraska–Omaha under Christine Beard, D.M.A. But it was while attending the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for her undergraduate degree that the idea for Sound Bites was born.
“A friend of mine gave a recital, and she had candies that she gave to the audience that went with each piece of music,” James said. “I was in the audience for that, and I remember thinking, ‘This is so cool.’ I’m not a violinist, so I don’t remember the specific pieces of music, but I still remember the candies. She had a York Peppermint Pattie and a little Hershey’s Kiss and a cinnamon candy. Flavors really stick in your memory.”
James became enamored with the idea of pairing her classical flute with a full dining experience—not just candies—but multi-course meals. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and momentarily thwarted her plans. Between getting her undergraduate degree and applying for graduate schools, she stored the idea in the back of her mind, hoping she’d eventually find a way to execute it. After settling in Omaha for school, she set her sights on performing in nontraditional spaces and the Sound Bites concept began to take shape…