Teacher Profile: Clarke Harris
Clarke Harris
Instrument(s): Music Theory, Piano, Voice
City: Atlanta
Education: New England Conservatory
About Clarke Harris
Clarke Harris is one of the most in-demand young countertenors in the southeast region, singing a wide variety of repertoire. He received his training at New England Conservatory under Mark Pearson and noted voice and diction coach, John Moriarty. He continues studying in Atlanta with Sharon Stephenson. Additionally, Clarke has had the great fortune to study with noted conductor William Fred Scott, with whom he has given numerous recitals.
Clarke's accolades in opera began in 2004 when he was invited to sing the role of Oberon in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream as a part of Opera North’s Young Artist Program; that same year he was named a regional finalist for the Metropolitan National Council, an award he earned a further three times over the next decade. In 2010, he was named one of nine finalists in the National Opera Association vocal competition. Clarke made his Chicago Opera Theater debut in Charpentier’s Medea in 2011 and returned the following year to sing the title role in Handel’s Teseo, both conducted by noted baroque specialist Christian Curnyn. Other roles to his credit include Orfeo in Gluck’s Orfeo and Eurydice, Amahl in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, the Nightingale in Charles Strouse’s Nightingale, and Rinaldo in Handel’s Rinaldo.
On staff at Peachtree Road United Methodist church for nearly two decades, Clarke sang the alto solos in Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and the extended alto solos in Purcell’s Jubilate Deo, hand-picked by music director Scott Atchison with Mr. Harris in mind. Sharing knowledge and demonstrating skill has always been a tenant and intricate part of the growth of every artist: this is no exception with Clarke. His versatility, enables him to cover a wide range of voice types to students of varying development with the same engaging energy he gives as a performer. Clarke's background and knowledge of music theory enables him to offer piano lessons to his students with the same level of enthusiasm as he does with voice.