British/Irish conductor Olivia Clarke was born in London and is based in Berlin. Olivia
has most recently worked at English National Opera assisting conductor Geoffrey
Paterson for Glass's Orphée. She is delighted to be returning to ENO this season to
conduct their Studio Live production of Weir's Blond Eckbert. Olivia was recently
announced as the new Mackerras Fellow at ENO, where she will enjoy a bespoke
Conducting fellowship supported by the Philip Loubser Foundation and mentored by Martyn
Brabbins until 2022. This season Olivia will also be Assistant Conductor for Alice Farnham
at Longborough Festival Opera for Cal McCrystal's production of l'elisir d'amore.
A recipient of the DAAD (Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst) scholarship for her
conducting studies, Olivia trained with Steven Sloane and Harry Curtis at the International
Conducting Academy Berlin, Universität der Künste, graduating in 2020. During her
studies Olivia conducted in concerts with the Neubrandenburger Philharmonie, Hradec
Králové Philharmonie, Magdeburgische Philharmonie, and Brandenburger Symphoniker,
who invited her back as Guest Conductor. Olivia also conducted in masterclasses with the
Deutsche Symphonie Orchester, Bochum Symphoniker, Komische Oper, and
Kammerakademie Potsdam.
From 2018-2019 Olivia held the position of principal conductor of
Orchester Benjamin Franklin Berlin, an amateur orchestra performing biannual
concerts, with whom she was praised for her innovative programming. Olivia has recently
enjoyed her first 'jump-in' performance, where she conducted Léhar's Der Zarewitsch at
Nordharzerstädtebundtheater. Olivia 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.
Before moving to Berlin, Olivia completed her Masters in singing at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and read Music with
an Organ Scholarship at the Queen's College, University of Oxford. While living in Glasgow studying singing, Olivia turned her attention to conducting after participating in some masterclasses. Olivia then founded Fox Opera, a company for young professionals, with whom she conducted Der Schauspieldirekor and le docteur miracle. A keen performer of contemporary opera, Olivia conducted the Art of Venus 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.
Olivia has studied conducting Sian Edwards and has taken part in masterclasses with Sir Roger Norrington, Alice Farnham, Jane Glover, Claire Gibault, Anthony Hermus, and Garry Walker.
Alongside conducting, Olivia 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. Olivia 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. Olivia is an Associate of the Royal College of Organists.
Olivia is currently mentored by Jennifer Spencer at IMG Artist Management.
