The Past three years have given me the opportunity to meet many people, there is one person inparticular that really stuck out in my mind. Colin Clarke, ([email protected]) who is the conductor of the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra, an active and highly desired guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. I met Colin while participating in the AIBF honors band, he conducted with with so much passion and enthusiasm that it inspired me to really try my absolute hardest. He has been kind enough to answer a few questions for me.
1. How old were you when you began to play music, was it on your own terms, because of family or some other factor, and on what instrument?
Don’t laugh. I was about five or six years old, sitting in front of the television watching an old program called “The Muppet Show” (it helps if you know this show). There was a character named Animal who played the drums. He was amazing!!! It never occurred to me at the time that Animal was just a puppet, and every sound he made was provided by a professional studio drummer, offstage. Nope, I looked at Animal with wonder and said to myself “well, if a Muppet can do it, then so can I.” So I begged my parents for drum set. They gave me a recorder.
I started playing drums (percussion) in high school, but having played recording recreationally for several years, I had a working knowledge of the pitch system, which benefitted me greatly when I learned about mallet percussion and then other instruments (woodwinds, brass, strings).
2. What inspired you choose to become a conductor/ composer?
You know that saying “when God closes a door, he opens a window?” Well, that aptly describes my beginnings as a conductor.
Originally, I had no interest at becoming a conductor. It never occurred to me to ever want to be a conductor. I fell in love with being a percussionist in high school and all I wanted to do was make music as a player. But I developed severe tendonitis in both arms and was forced to stop playing. Can you imagine that? I was barely 20 years old and I was told vociferously by my doctor never to pick up drum sticks again. Simultaneous to all this, Bramwell Smith II, a virtuoso cornet player, prominent music educator and my hero, was the conductor of my newly-formed Wind Orchestra. Mr. Smith passed away before the end of our first complete season, and I took over as conductor because I didn’t want the band to stop, nor could I find anyone else willing to take over. So, I reluctantly began leading rehearsals, figuring that over time I would find someone to take over, returning me to my rightful spot in the percussion section, knowing deep in my heart that I couldn’t stay there for long. Almost immediately I received warm comments about my artistry on the podium, my gift at working with people and the performance level of my group, something I never took seriously until I started receiving invitations to guest conduct local ensembles, teach at music camps and adjudicate at festivals. Again, I was in my early twenties with absolutely no formal training.
After a few years, I decided I would take myself seriously and train as a conductor. The rest is history.
3. What musician do you look up to and if possible why?
Too many to name. My high school teacher, because he introduced me to a whole
4. What are your musical influences when writing?
I was the kind of child that would get a new toy, play with it for a while then take it apart because I had to know how it worked, then put it back together again. This was to the chagrin of my mom who threatened to stop buying me expensive toys if I was just going to break them apart. To my surprise, I was the same way with music. Though I never realized it at the time, I remember often finding myself mesmerized by a musical work and listen to it over and over. Then, I’d take it apart by thinking about the tone qualities, the construction, the mood, the tempo, everything. Mind you, it’s not like I was some wunderkind able to hear complex harmonies and dissect them. No way. I was a pretty slow kid. On more of a surface level, I’d become fascinated with something then ask myself why I like it so much. Then, I’d pay closer attention to the music, the melody, the lyrics, the instruments, the groove. In a way, I’d take it apart, then put it back together. I did this with any song or work that fascinated me. And this was with all music. Pop, rap, jazz, orchestral, wind band, country music - you name it. If it intrigued me, I had to take it apart. When I got older, I did the same things but with scores, or sets of parts.
Now, I don’t consider myself a composer formally, but I’ve always had an interest in composition. As you know, I have written a few things for various ensembles, but again, I’m an amateur at best. However, given your question, I can offer you a more focused answer with reference to influences; Tchaikovksy, John Williams and Wagner for melody; Leonard Cohen, Sting and Eminem for lyrics; Grainger and Alfred Reed for colour; Brahms for story-telling; Mozart and Bernstein for the sheer joy in music.
5. What is your favourite genre of music?
Ooooooh.....I love so many different styles of music! Classical, Wind Band, Jazz, Choral - don’t make me pick just one! But I guess not picking one is in itself a cop-out. So here’s what I did. I went to the iTunes player on my computer. Since I’m too much of a wimp to pick one genre, I’ve left it up to my iMac. Based on number of ‘most recent plays’ and the quantity of files in my computer right now, my favorite genre of music rest somewhere between bad music from the ‘80s and Broadway musicals. Oh dear....please don’t tell my conducting professor.
6. Where is your favourite performance venue?
Carnegie Hall.
7. Have you ever gone through a period of time where you thought music was not the right choice for you?
I can liken this question to that of how I feel about my wife. Yes, there are times when things aren’t 100%, but without question, Laura is my life partner, my true love, the right choice for me. I can speak the same way about music in my life. Even though there have been times when things didn’t always go my way, music has always been the right choice for me. It, like my wife, is a now a part of who I am.
8. How does it feel to be the conductor Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra, knowing that it is has won many awards and been given incredible performance opportunities?
I feel truly blessed.
9. Do you believe that musical education for younger children is important?
If I had millions of dollars, I would start a national campaign to ensure the presence of music education in all schools. I would also lobby the government to allow tax breaks for parents who send their kids to choirs or take music lessons, the same way such programs exist for sports. Music, in my humble opinion, is an important part of every child’s education.
1. How old were you when you began to play music, was it on your own terms, because of family or some other factor, and on what instrument?
Don’t laugh. I was about five or six years old, sitting in front of the television watching an old program called “The Muppet Show” (it helps if you know this show). There was a character named Animal who played the drums. He was amazing!!! It never occurred to me at the time that Animal was just a puppet, and every sound he made was provided by a professional studio drummer, offstage. Nope, I looked at Animal with wonder and said to myself “well, if a Muppet can do it, then so can I.” So I begged my parents for drum set. They gave me a recorder.
I started playing drums (percussion) in high school, but having played recording recreationally for several years, I had a working knowledge of the pitch system, which benefitted me greatly when I learned about mallet percussion and then other instruments (woodwinds, brass, strings).
2. What inspired you choose to become a conductor/ composer?
You know that saying “when God closes a door, he opens a window?” Well, that aptly describes my beginnings as a conductor.
Originally, I had no interest at becoming a conductor. It never occurred to me to ever want to be a conductor. I fell in love with being a percussionist in high school and all I wanted to do was make music as a player. But I developed severe tendonitis in both arms and was forced to stop playing. Can you imagine that? I was barely 20 years old and I was told vociferously by my doctor never to pick up drum sticks again. Simultaneous to all this, Bramwell Smith II, a virtuoso cornet player, prominent music educator and my hero, was the conductor of my newly-formed Wind Orchestra. Mr. Smith passed away before the end of our first complete season, and I took over as conductor because I didn’t want the band to stop, nor could I find anyone else willing to take over. So, I reluctantly began leading rehearsals, figuring that over time I would find someone to take over, returning me to my rightful spot in the percussion section, knowing deep in my heart that I couldn’t stay there for long. Almost immediately I received warm comments about my artistry on the podium, my gift at working with people and the performance level of my group, something I never took seriously until I started receiving invitations to guest conduct local ensembles, teach at music camps and adjudicate at festivals. Again, I was in my early twenties with absolutely no formal training.
After a few years, I decided I would take myself seriously and train as a conductor. The rest is history.
3. What musician do you look up to and if possible why?
Too many to name. My high school teacher, because he introduced me to a whole
4. What are your musical influences when writing?
I was the kind of child that would get a new toy, play with it for a while then take it apart because I had to know how it worked, then put it back together again. This was to the chagrin of my mom who threatened to stop buying me expensive toys if I was just going to break them apart. To my surprise, I was the same way with music. Though I never realized it at the time, I remember often finding myself mesmerized by a musical work and listen to it over and over. Then, I’d take it apart by thinking about the tone qualities, the construction, the mood, the tempo, everything. Mind you, it’s not like I was some wunderkind able to hear complex harmonies and dissect them. No way. I was a pretty slow kid. On more of a surface level, I’d become fascinated with something then ask myself why I like it so much. Then, I’d pay closer attention to the music, the melody, the lyrics, the instruments, the groove. In a way, I’d take it apart, then put it back together. I did this with any song or work that fascinated me. And this was with all music. Pop, rap, jazz, orchestral, wind band, country music - you name it. If it intrigued me, I had to take it apart. When I got older, I did the same things but with scores, or sets of parts.
Now, I don’t consider myself a composer formally, but I’ve always had an interest in composition. As you know, I have written a few things for various ensembles, but again, I’m an amateur at best. However, given your question, I can offer you a more focused answer with reference to influences; Tchaikovksy, John Williams and Wagner for melody; Leonard Cohen, Sting and Eminem for lyrics; Grainger and Alfred Reed for colour; Brahms for story-telling; Mozart and Bernstein for the sheer joy in music.
5. What is your favourite genre of music?
Ooooooh.....I love so many different styles of music! Classical, Wind Band, Jazz, Choral - don’t make me pick just one! But I guess not picking one is in itself a cop-out. So here’s what I did. I went to the iTunes player on my computer. Since I’m too much of a wimp to pick one genre, I’ve left it up to my iMac. Based on number of ‘most recent plays’ and the quantity of files in my computer right now, my favorite genre of music rest somewhere between bad music from the ‘80s and Broadway musicals. Oh dear....please don’t tell my conducting professor.
6. Where is your favourite performance venue?
Carnegie Hall.
7. Have you ever gone through a period of time where you thought music was not the right choice for you?
I can liken this question to that of how I feel about my wife. Yes, there are times when things aren’t 100%, but without question, Laura is my life partner, my true love, the right choice for me. I can speak the same way about music in my life. Even though there have been times when things didn’t always go my way, music has always been the right choice for me. It, like my wife, is a now a part of who I am.
8. How does it feel to be the conductor Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra, knowing that it is has won many awards and been given incredible performance opportunities?
I feel truly blessed.
9. Do you believe that musical education for younger children is important?
If I had millions of dollars, I would start a national campaign to ensure the presence of music education in all schools. I would also lobby the government to allow tax breaks for parents who send their kids to choirs or take music lessons, the same way such programs exist for sports. Music, in my humble opinion, is an important part of every child’s education.
Some of the other people who have influenced where i am today are:
Kirk Linton – Music Teacher
- [email protected]
Mr. Linton was my grade 9 band teacher and he helped learn that there was more to music than what our band was currently achieving, he made me want to prusure music, and at the time i even concidered becoming a music teacher.
Ai Hagiwara– Saxophone teacher
- [email protected]
Ai took me on as her student half way through the year in order to prepare me for my PVA audition, at my junoir high we weren't taught much more than to be able to play what was on our pages. She taught me how to use the full range of my instrument and how to achieve pitches on my mouth piece. This basic fundementals that she taught me had opened me to a whole world of sounds i didn't know the saxohone could make.
Kirk Linton – Music Teacher
- [email protected]
Mr. Linton was my grade 9 band teacher and he helped learn that there was more to music than what our band was currently achieving, he made me want to prusure music, and at the time i even concidered becoming a music teacher.
Ai Hagiwara– Saxophone teacher
- [email protected]
Ai took me on as her student half way through the year in order to prepare me for my PVA audition, at my junoir high we weren't taught much more than to be able to play what was on our pages. She taught me how to use the full range of my instrument and how to achieve pitches on my mouth piece. This basic fundementals that she taught me had opened me to a whole world of sounds i didn't know the saxohone could make.
