British/Irish conductor Olivia Clarke works across opera and orchestral music. She has most recently worked at English National Opera assisting Martyn Brabbins for La Bohème. Clarke is currently the ENO Mackerras Fellow, where she is on a bespoke,
2 year conducting fellowship supported by the Philip Loubser Foundation, mentored by Martyn Brabbins. Clarke is forging a
career specialising in late 19th/early 20th Century German repertoire, including Wagner, R. Strauss and Berg. Her conducting concentrates on carrying organic, bass-led, round sound with strength and clarity.
A recipient of the DAAD (Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst) scholarship for her conducting studies, Clarke trained at the International Conducting Academy Berlin, Universität der Künste, graduating in 2020. During her studies Clarke conducted in
concerts with the Neubrandenburger Philharmonie, Hradec Králové Philharmonie, Magdeburgische Philharmonie, and Brandenburger Symphoniker, who invited her back as Guest Conductor. She also conducted in masterclasses with the
Deutsche Symphonie Orchester, Bochum Symphoniker, Komische Oper, and Kammerakademie Potsdam.
From 2018-2019 Clarke held the position of principal conductor of Orchester Benjamin Franklin Berlin, with whom she was praised for her innovative programming. Clarke has recently conducted her first 'jump-in' performance, Léhar's Der Zarewitsch at Nordharzerstädtebundtheater. She has also worked with Oper oder Spree as Assistant Conductor/Repetiteur for Die Zauberflöte and was Assistant Conductor to Errico Fresis for l’heure espagnole, Angélique, la voix humaine performed at
Unit Theater, Universität der Künste.
In 2017 Clarke conducted the Art of Venus with Music Troupe for the London new opera festival Tête à Tête, and was Musical Director for The Beautiful Bridegroom by Shore performed at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Before moving to Berlin, Clarke completed her Masters in singing at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. While living
in Glasgow, she turned her attention to conducting and founded Fox Opera, a company for young professionals, conducting
Der Schauspieldirekor and le docteur miracle. Clarke was Music Director of Kelvin Choir in Glasgow 2016-2017.
Alongside conducting, Clarke has worked as a repetiteur, vocal coach, accompanist for singers, and continuo player and was a Repetiteur for British Youth Opera's 2018 production of The Rake's Progress. She also enjoys a long-standing relationship with the Finchley Children's Music Group in London, a choir she was once a member of, and now teaches and conducts on their annual summer schools. Clarke is an Associate of the Royal College of Organists and completed her Bachelors in Music with an Organ Scholarship at the Queen's College, University of Oxford.
Olivia Clarke is currently mentored by Jennifer Spencer at IMG Artist Management.