Beethoven : Coriolan Overture - Autumn 2018 - String Bowings
Beethoven : Coriolan Overture - Autumn 2018 - String Bowings
Chris Clark
Conductor of the CLO
Chris Clark, 2022-Present
Chris Clark currently serves as Music Director and Principal Conductor for the Central London Orchestra.
In addition to his role with the CLO, Chris is passionate about developing projects with musicians and artists from around the world. His recent work includes a recording of Copland’s Appalachian Spring and Mahler’s 4th Symphony with Igor Yuzefovich, leader of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the world premiere of an interdisciplinary work by composer Alan Williams for the NHS during their 75th anniversary alongside Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale, and an immersive art exhibition and live performance in Cairo and London with Egyptian visual artist Dina Negm.
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In the UK, Chris has worked with the Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, Orchestra of the City, London City Orchestra, Hertford Symphony Orchestra, Hard Rain Soloists Ensemble and was previously Music Director of the Salford Symphony Orchestra.
Chris had held the position of Principal Trumpet at Orchestra Wellington and the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band and has performed and toured with the Hallé, Opera North, Welsh National Opera, Black Dyke Brass Band, North Czech Philharmonic, New Zealand Opera, Royal New Zealand Ballet and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
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, Waverley Fund, Todd Foundation and The Lion Foundation.
Learn more about Chris and his current work: chrisclarkconducts.com
Past Conductors
At CLO, we strive to work with and help further develop up-and-coming conductors. In 2019, we built a two-year tenure into our Constitution, with post-holders allowed two tenures with the orchestra.
We are proud to see our past conductors continue from stride to stride in the challenging and competitive professional music community.
John Warner, 2017-2022
John studied Music at St Peter’s College, Oxford. He won the prestigious University conducting competition, affording him a year with the Oxford University Philharmonia.
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In 2014, he founded the St Peter’s Chamber Orchestra, who relaunched in 2018 as the Orchestra for the Earth.
Whilst at the CLO, John conducted 12 programmes with the orchestra, one of which wasn't able to be performed due to the onset of the first lockdown for the Covid pandemic.
Edmund Whitehead, 2016-2017
British-Russian conductor and repetiteur Edmund Whitehead first achieved international recognition as a Jette Parker Young Artist Conductor and Repetiteur at the Royal Opera House, where he is currently the offstage conductor.
He is an assistant conductor with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and returns to the Wimbledon Symphony Orchestra as conductor for the Spring and Summer seasons.
Edmund conducted three programmes with the CLO, his tenure cut short for an exciting opportunity on the continent! He conducted one of the orchestra's most memorable concerts: A Night at the Opera, which continues to be a favourite amongst members and audience alike.
Susie Geeson, 2015-2016
When CLO first began, we were conducted by violinist and friend of the orchestra, Susie Geeson, who helped build the foundations on which we stand today
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Susie is a freelance multi-instrumentalist and vocalist whose musical range spans from rock to baroque.​
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Susie conducted the orchestra's first concerts and was integral to setting the tone of our members-led ethos.
