Colin Clarke Biography

Nov. 10, 2022

Colin Clarke remains active as a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and composer/arranger. His conducting credits include collaboration with world-renowned artists and ensembles including the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, the New Symphony Orchestra of Sofia, Bulgaria, United States Air Force Band of Liberty, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, the Canadian Brass and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, the official fanfare ensemble for the President of the United States. He is best known for his work with the multi-award-winning Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra, a group he launched as a high school student. For three decades this ensemble has earned a reputation nationwide as one of the leading performance ensembles of its kind in Canada.

With a passion for music education and outreach, Colin maintains a commitment to working with young people and the community. He has conducted amateur and professional orchestras, bands and choirs throughout Canada and the U.S., and has led the provincial honour bands of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Island. In the spring of 2008, he served as conductor of the prestigious National Youth Band of Canada. Abroad, Colin has given performances in the United States, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Spain and China.

Colin is the Music Director of the Oakville Symphony Youth Orchestra, and is the newly appointed Artistic Director of the Oscar Peterson Program at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.