Colin Clarke is the founder and artistic director of the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra, a project he began as a student in high school. The program has developed substantially over the years and he now oversees the continuing growth of the Wind Orchestra, TYWO Chamber Winds, Symphonic Brass and the Toronto Youth Concert Winds. Under his direction, the multi-award winning Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra has earned a reputation nationwide as one of the leading performance ensembles of its kind in Canada, specializing in music from the traditional through to the newest works for wind band. Premiere performances and new composition readings have been an integral part of the Wind Orchestra's continuing program.

Though he is best known for his work with the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra, Mr. Clarke's popularity as a conductor, clinician, adjudicator and composer has captured the attention of instrumental and choral ensembles, schools and music festivals all across Canada. A recent recipient of the Clifford Evans Award for Conducting, Mr. Clarke's credits include collaboration with groups such as the United States Air Force Band of Liberty in Boston, Massachusetts, the University of Western Ontario Symphony Orchestra, UWOpera, the Woodstock Strings and rehearsals with the International Symphony Orchestra in Port Huron, Michigan.

Mr. Clarke's formal training stems from the University of Western Ontario in London, where he studied orchestral conducting with Jerome Summers and Jim McKay, and worked alongside such artists as Timothy Vernon and Susan Haig. He furthered his studies at the University of North Texas where he participated in workshops for wind band conducting and rehearsal techniques led by famed wind conductor Dr. Eugene Corporon and renowned composer Jack Stamp. He also studied briefly in New York at the Manhattan School of Music, participating in a special masterclass for orchestral conductors. The masterclass featured a session at Carnegie Hall with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Sibelius Orchestra of Findland. Mr. Clarke recently returned from Sofia, Bulgaria where he conducted the symphonies of Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky as part of the International Conducting Workshop & Festival with the highly celebrated New Symphony Orchestra, and studied with Rossen Milanov of the Philadelphia Orchestra and renowned conducting pedagogue Gustav Meier.

Operatically, Mr. Clarke debuted with Orchestra London Canada and the UWOpera Division in a presentation of Gian Carlos Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors, and served later as Assistant Music Director in a production of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and music director of the UWOpera's Hansel und Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck.

A closet composer, Mr. Clarke is steadily gaining attention for his original music for wind band. His work A Little Music, commissioned by the Coalition for Music Education in Canada, was featured in a special concert in May, 2005 which culminated in a nation-wide broadcast via broadband technology. Most recently, he returned from Ottawa where he conducted the world-premiere of his latest work, commissioned by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. Mr. Clarke also maintains an active schedule as a clinician and adjudicator and has sat on the adjudication table at both the regional and national levels of MusicFest Canada.

With a passion for the music education and outreach, Mr. Clarke maintains a commitment to working with young people and the community. He has conducted several all-city bands and orchestras across Canada and is in constant demand as a clinician on rehearsal and conducting technique at various Ontario middle schools, high schools and colleges. He currently lives in Oakville, Ontario where he is enjoying his very first year of teaching at Iroquois Ridge High School, where he leads the vocal music program and conducts the IRHS Concert and Chamber Choirs.