British/Irish conductor, BBC Music Magazine Rising Star and “name to watch” (Observer), Olivia Clarke is in high demand across the UK and Europe for both opera and symphony concerts.
Olivia Clarke has recently made debuts with the National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and Bridgeskammerorchester Frankfurt, as well as returned to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia, English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, and Glyndebourne. Recently, Olivia conducted ‘die Zauberflöte’ for the Opera department of the Royal Academy of Music, earning top reviews: “Olivia Clarke conducted a lyrical yet zesty account of this adorable score… a big cheer to the valiant Royal Academy Sinfonia who played so beautifully under Clarke’s baton that we probably took their excellence for granted.” (Bachtrack).
Olivia is known for her personable style, rigorous detail, and sparkling energy. Olivia’s specialisms are works by contemporary and underrepresented composers, particularly where composer collaboration is involved, as well as the works of Richard Strauss and Janáček. At this point in her career, Olivia is focusing on building long-standing relationships with companies and festivals, as well as pioneering her own projects.
Olivia has held Music Director titles with Rough for Opera, Norfolk Into Opera Festival, Sinfonie Orchester Steglitz in Berlin and the Kelvin Choir in Glasgow. She has guest conducted internationally renowned orchestras including Britten Sinfonia, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, English National Opera, Glyndebourne, Hallé, Bridges Kammerorchester Frankfurt, National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, Opéra de Rouen Normandie, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, and Welsh National Opera. Olivia Clarke was English National Opera’s Mackerras Conducting Fellow (2020-2023) and Assistant Conductor to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (2022-2023).
In the 24/25 season, Olivia Clarke made her Glyndebourne production debut with Mariame Clément’s ‘il turco in Italia’ for their Autumn season to critical acclaim: “Musically this performance was top-class…lively and in the best Italian tradition, the Glyndebourne Sinfonia under the sovereign baton of Olivia Clarke” (Klassik begeistert). Olivia first worked at Glyndebourne in 2021 as assistant conductor and developed a close relationship with the company, returning every season, gradually moving from assisting to conducting productions in her own right.
A recipient of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst scholarship for her conducting studies, Olivia Clarke trained at the International Conducting Academy Berlin, Universität der Künste, graduating in 2020. Before Berlin, Olivia completed her Master's in singing at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She is an Associate of the Royal College of Organists and completed her Bachelor's in Music with an Organ Scholarship at the Queen's College, University of Oxford.
October 2025
