Concert Program
Festive holiday music featuring ESO Brass and Percussion sections.
Antoine T. Clark, conductor
Ticket Information
No tickets are required to attend this FREE concert. RSVPs welcomed and optional (see below).
Event Sponsors
Frances J. & Patricia A. Houlihan Foundation
Wickstrom Auto Group
Marquardt of Barrington
McGrath Automotive Group
Biographies
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Compelling interpretations, inventive performances and an energetic stage presence are the hallmarks of American conductor Antoine T. Clark. The founding Artistic and Music Director of the Worthington Chamber Orchestra in Ohio (formerly McConnell Arts Center Chamber Orchestra), now in its tenth season, Mr. Clark was named Assistant Conductor of West Virginia’s Wheeling Symphony Orchestra in fall 2021. A passionate advocate of arts education, he served as Cincinnati Symphony’s 2022 MAC Music Innovator. The program, which highlights leading African American classical musicians who embody artistry, innovation and commitment to education and community engagement, saw Clark leading chamber music and orchestral performances in schools and throughout the community during his residency.
2022-2023 season highlights include a collaboration with Hixon Dance in a performance of Peter and the Wolf with the Worthington Chamber Orchestra and guest engagements in the fall with Dayton Philharmonic, Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, Elgin Symphony Orchestra and in the spring with Spartanburg Philharmonic, Symphony Tacoma, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, and New Jersey Symphony.
This past 2021-22 season in addition to his duties with Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, Worthington Chamber Orchestra, Lancaster Festival Orchestra, and the MAC Music Innovator residency, included his conducting debuts with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, and Opera Columbus. He also served as a panelist with Harold Brown, Chief Diversity Officer, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, at the 2022 International Conductors Guild Conference's panel discussion on diversity on the podium.
Guest engagements include Chicago Sinfonietta, the Chamber Orchestra of New York, the Colour of Music Festival Chamber Orchestra, Richmond Symphony, and the Gateways Music Festival. For his work with Chicago Sinfonietta leading the premiere of Joel Thompson's "breathe/burn: an elegy" for cello and orchestra, the Chicago Tribune praised "Clark led from the podium with balletic poise." With McConnell Arts Center Chamber Orchestra, he led a collaboration with musicians from the Columbus Jazz Orchestra in a concert tribute to John Coltrane. A staunch supporter of DEI, Mr. Clark also participated in Chicago Sinfonietta's 15th Annual Diversity Reception, and the 2021 Youth Orchestras Online DEI panel, a collaboration between Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, and the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras.
With a focus on building strong relationships in communities, Mr. Clark creates bold programs that often include innovative collaborations with artists from various artistic disciplines. A passionate supporter of new music, Mr. Clark regularly commissions works for the symphonic and chamber music canon. Among the composers with which he has worked are Mark Lomax III, Jacob Reed, Matthew Saunders, Michael Rene Torres, Christopher Weait, and Tony Zilincik.
Committed to inspiring and nurturing the next generation of musicians, Mr. Clark has taught students ranging from young beginners to college music majors. He has served as the assistant conductor at the Gateways Music Festival in association with the Eastman School of Music since 2017.
Prior post includes serving as assistant conductor of the Chicago Sinfonietta, music director of the Ohio Wesleyan University Chamber Orchestra, music director of the Ohio Northern University Symphony, music director of the Ohio Northern University Wind Orchestra, music director of the Wayne State College Orchestra, assistant conductor of The Ohio State University Orchestra, and artistic and music director of the Capital City Chamber Players.
Antoine T. Clark holds a Master of Music degree in orchestral conducting and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in clarinet performance from The Ohio State University, a Master of Music degree in clarinet performance from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. A winner in the 2017 International Conductor's Workshop and Competition, he has participated in the Cabrillo Contemporary Festival of Music, the Monteux School and Music Festival, the International Conductors Guild Conference conducting masterclass with Carlos Kalmar, the New York Conducting Workshop, the Smoky Mountain International Conducting Institute, and as a Project Inclusion Conducting Freeman Fellow with the Chicago Sinfonietta. Among his mentors are conductors Mei-Ann Chen, Michael Morgan, Markand Thakar, the late Michael Jinbo, and Marshall Haddock. 654 words
Short Biography
Compelling interpretations, inventive performances and an energetic stage presence are the hallmarks of American conductor Antoine T. Clark. The founding Artistic and Music Director of the Worthington Chamber Orchestra in Ohio (formerly McConnell Arts Center Chamber Orchestra), now in its tenth season, Mr. Clark was named Assistant Conductor of West Virginia’s Wheeling Symphony Orchestra in fall 2021. A passionate advocate of arts education, he served as Cincinnati Symphony’s 2022 MAC Music Innovator. 2022-2023 season highlights include a collaboration with Hixon Dance in a performance of Peter and the Wolf with the Worthington Chamber Orchestra and guest engagements in the fall with Dayton Philharmonic, Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, and Elgin Symphony Orchestra and in the spring with Spartanburg Philharmonic, Symphony Tacoma, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, and New Jersey Symphony. Guest appearances include engagements with Chicago Sinfonietta, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, Opera Columbus, the Chamber Orchestra of New York, the Colour of Music Festival Chamber Orchestra, Richmond Symphony, and at the Gateways Music Festival. Among the composers with which he has worked are Mark Lomax III, Jacob Reed, Matthew Saunders, Michael Rene Torres, Christopher Weait, and Tony Zilincik. A winner in the 2017 International Conductor's Workshop and Competition, he has participated in the Cabrillo Contemporary Festival of Music, the Monteux School and Music Festival, and as a Chicago Sinfonietta Project Inclusion Conducting Freeman Fellow.