Chris Clark
“Chris is a most thoughtful musician, with a clear approach to rehearsal which yields quick results. His approach is deeply considered, and he is a first-class communicator.” - Ulster Orchestra
Chris Clark is a conductor whose career spans performance, education and innovation.
As Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Central London Orchestra (CLO), he champions young talent and brings new and diverse works to the concert stage. Notably, Chris has played a key role in highlighting New Zealand music in London, including works by celebrated composers Douglas Lilburn and Salina Fisher. His work with the CLO includes frequent collaborations with soloists from the Royal Academy of Music, where he was recently invited to conduct the undergraduate orchestra.
Chris’s projects reflect his commitment to interdisciplinary exploration and artistic innovation. He recorded Copland’s Appalachian Spring and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with Igor Yuzefovich, leader of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and conducted the world premiere of a new work by composer Alan Williams marking the NHS’s 75th anniversary, paired with Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale.
His operatic assistant roles include working with New Zealand Opera (Madama Butterfly), Opera North (Faust, La voix humaine, Dido and Aeneas), and major repertoire such as Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier, Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Puccini’s La bohème, and Mozart’s Don Giovanni.
Chris has participated in masterclasses with renowned conductors, including Colin Metters, Jac van Steen and Pietari Inkinen working with ensembles like the Ulster Orchestra, Berlin Sinfonietta, and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He has observed Semyon Bychkov’s rehearsals with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in Prague, Sir Mark Elder with the Hallé, and Richard Farnes at Opera North, gaining invaluable insight into the interpretation of the repertoire at the highest level.
In 2025, Chris will collaborate with opera houses in the Netherlands and Germany, expanding his international reach, and return as Music Director of the CLO for their 2025/2026 season. He is also developing an innovative opera project exploring the intersection of machine learning and theatre.
Beyond his work on the podium, he serves as a coach to conductors from around the world, helping them refine their public speaking and communication skills.
Before dedicating himself fully to conducting, Chris enjoyed an extensive international career as an orchestral trumpet player and soloist. He held Principal Trumpet positions with Orchestra Wellington and Royal New Zealand Air Force Band, and toured and performed with the Hallé, Opera North, Royal New Zealand Ballet, New Zealand Opera, Welsh National Opera, North Czech Philharmonic, Black Dyke Brass Band and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
Among many awards, Chris was the winner of the prestigious Dame Malvina Major Foundation Arts Excellence Award for international conducting studies, and the recipient of the Pettman DARE International Performance Scholarship, a highly sought after award for leaders in opera. Chris would also like to acknowledge the generous support of the Arts House Trust, Adam Foundation, Philip and Dianne Pattison, Waverley Fund, Todd Foundation and The Lion Foundation.
Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, Chris is a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music, University of British Columbia and the New Zealand School of Music.