Christopher Clarke

Christopher (they/them, he/him) was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada and began studying harp at three under Anita Leschied. Throughout their early years, Christopher was fortunate enough to participate in local arts communities and learn various instruments, including piano, flute, guitar, and voice. By the time Christopher had finished studying at Vincent Massey Secondary School in 2016, they had had the opportunity to work with various ensembles and musicians such as the Windsor Symphony Orchestra as a featured solo vocalist, the Windsor Symphony Youth Orchestra as their principal harpist, the Arts Collective Theatre (ACT) as their Music Director, and the Windsor West Indian Association helping to start their Promising Youth Scholarship. Christopher went on to pursue a Bachelor of Music (BMus.) at Wilfrid Laurier University in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, where they had the opportunity to study with Lori Gemmell and Sharlene Wallace. Throughout Christopher’s four years at Laurier, they were able to expand their knowledge of both classical and contemporary music and modern harp techniques, in addition to having the opportunity to collaborate with many local and non-local talents. This included the Waterloo Chamber Orchestra, FUSE Opera Company (formerly Vera Causa Opera), Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Richmond Hill Philharmonic Orchestra. Christopher also participated in the Wilfrid Laurier Association of Music Creators (WLAMC) Composer Concert Series, premiering five pieces for flute and harp. During this time, Christopher began exploring their passion for new music and experimental theatre, collaborating with composers and other musicians to create new and exciting performance pieces. Christopher completed their degree at Laurier with Honours. They continued their education at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) in London, UK, pursuing a Master of Performance (MPerf.) under Charlotte Seale, Imogen Barford, and Keziah Thomas. At GSMD, they could further explore the contemporary harp repertoire and collaborate with artists and creators. In 2022, Christopher was chosen to premiere Hannah Kendall’s new work Tuxedo: Diving Bell 2 for solo harp, at Milton Court Concert Hall and take part in projects like OperaMakers, Wigmore Hall V oiceWorks, and the London Symphony Orchestra/Orchestral Artistry Composers Programme, all of which are designed to help bring new composers’ works to life with guidance from professional musicians, premiering new works. Christopher has been a featured artist during the BBC Radio 3 Total Immersion series featuring the works of the late Kaija Saariaho. Christopher graduated from the Guildhall School in 2023 with Distinction. Since then, Christopher has worked with various ensembles throughout the UK and Canada such as the Dorset Opera Festival, Brixton Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonia Smith Square, the Her Ensemble, and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Christopher began working alongside rare instrumentalist Joseph Fraser to commission new works for rare instruments leading to their debut performance at the Future Strategies Club of installations for theremin, electric harp, and electronics and the formation of their duo STAND!BACK. Christopher also began working with flautist Lucy Walsh and the duo were chosen to perform at the inaugural Arran International Festival of Chamber Music and Song, premiering a new work commissioned for the duo by the Festival from composer-in-residence Electra Perivolaris. Christopher was also one of the featured artists in the annual Lichfield Arts Festival and in 2024, they made their West End debut in the Sam Shepard plays Savage/Love and Tongues. They were fortunate enough to devise the music for the production alongside guitarist Juan Carlos. Christopher now holds a position on the 2024/2025 Dev Scheme with the London Musical Theatre Orchestra.