Derek Clark

Photo of Derek Clark

International Visiting Professor

(Scottish Opera)

Derek Clark was born in Glasgow, and is an Honours graduate of the RSAMD and the University of Durham. He studied at the London Opera Centre before joining Welsh National Opera as a repetiteur in 1977, making his professional conducting début in 1981.

He has been Head of Music at Scottish Opera since 1997, and has conducted more than 25 operas for the company.

In recent years he has also specialised in contemporary music, as conductor of all three seasons of Scottish Opera’s highly successful Five:15 project, and has premieres of works by James MacMillan, Philip Glass, Craig Armstrong and Rory Boyle.

He works as an accompanist, appearing regularly throughout the country, and is a regular Guest Coach at the major conservatoires and colleges and at the National Opera Studio.

He was appointed Musical Director of Dundee Choral Union in 2011, and since 2014 has been Director of Music at Helensburgh Parish Church.