Claudia was a pre-Immortal who had known Duncan since she was 14. Duncan, noting her gift with music, financed her musical education at The Juilliard School in New York. As an adult, Claudia became a noted classical pianist. In 1996, she was delighted to see Duncan come to visit her while she was practicing the piano in a concert hall in Seacouver. But an unknown Immortal sawed through cables above her on the stage, causing the lights to fall, crashing on to her piano. Claudia was saved from injury by MacLeod. Duncan was concerned when he sensed another Immortal close by. He took her to his loft for protection, but later allowed a visit to Joe Dawson's tavern where Methos sensed her latent immortality and asked Duncan if she knew what she was, Duncan replied that she hadn't a clue.