Owen Clarke
Artistic Director, Adjudicator
A conductor, trombonist and violinist, Owen Clarke has a wealth of experience in professional, amateur and youth music. Hailing from New Zealand he moved to Australia in 2015 after a sixteen-year career as the Director of Music for the Royal New Zealand Air Force and Navy Bands.
Since settling in Queensland, Owen has been in demand as an adjudicator, conductor, clinician and teacher. He held positions including Head of Bands and Director of Performing Arts, and has taught at schools as diverse as Brisbane Girls Grammar School, the Aboriginal Academy in Coen, Cape York, in Cairns and on the Gold Coast. Owen is in demand as an adjudicator and he undertakes workshops and adjudicates at music festivals throughout New Zealand and in Australia, including the KBB Festival, Eisteddfods and workshops, and the NZCT Chamber Music Contest.
As a conductor, Owen works with amateur and professional ensembles including the Gold Coast Philharmonic Orchestra, Rockhampton Symphony Orchestra and the Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra in NSW. Owen has been involved with Rhapsody Rotorua since soon after its inception in the early 2000’s and is delighted to return this year.