Clark Ross
Encyclopedia
Clark Winslow Ross is a Canadian composer
, guitar
ist, and music educator of Venezuelan birth. A composer of mainly works for orchestra
and chamber music
, he has won first prize in composition competitions held by the Hamilton Philharmonic (1993, for Passage 1), the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
(1993, for Passage 3), Symphony Nova Scotia
(2002, for Three Lorca Sketches), and the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts and Letters (2002). He has received grants from a number of notable organizations, including the Canada Council
, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
, the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra
, and the Royal Bank of Canada
among others. His compositions have been performed throughout North America and in Europe.
Born in Maracaibo
, Ross entered The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto in 1980, earning an Associate diploma there in 1985. While there he studied music composition with Samuel Dolin
. He continued with further studies in music composition at the University of Toronto
where he was a pupil of John Beckwith
. There he earned a Master of Music
in 1986 and a Doctor of Music
in 1992. In 1988 he was an artist-in-residence at the Banff Centre for the Arts and held the same title at Stanford University
in 1989. In 2003 he was composer-in-residence at the Waterford New Music Festival in Ireland.
While a graduate student, he taught on the music faculties of the Royal Conservatory from 1987–1992 and McMaster University
in 1990–1991. Since 1992 he has been a professor of electronic music
, guitar, music composition, music theory
, and orchestration
at Memorial University of Newfoundland
. He was notably the recipient of Memorial University's President's Award for Outstanding Research in 1999. From 1997–2002 he was director of evening services at St. Thomas' Anglican Church in St. John's, Newfoundland.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist, and music educator of Venezuelan birth. A composer of mainly works for orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
and chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
, he has won first prize in composition competitions held by the Hamilton Philharmonic (1993, for Passage 1), the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Its primary concert venue is the Centennial Concert Hall, and the orchestra also performs throughout the province of Manitoba.-History:...
(1993, for Passage 3), Symphony Nova Scotia
Symphony Nova Scotia
Symphony Nova Scotia is a professional orchestra based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Symphony Nova Scotia traces its origins back to several different orchestras, including the Halifax Symphony , the Halifax Sinfoniette , and the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra . Its current structure began in 1983...
(2002, for Three Lorca Sketches), and the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts and Letters (2002). He has received grants from a number of notable organizations, including the Canada Council
Canada Council
The Canada Council for the Arts, commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government of Canada, created to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. It funds Canadian artists and...
, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra
Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra
The Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra is a prominent orchestra from the Atlantic province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. They began in 1962 as a 20-piece string orchestra known as the St. John's Orchestra.Music Directors:*David Gray...
, and the Royal Bank of Canada
Royal Bank of Canada
The Royal Bank of Canada or RBC Financial Group is the largest financial institution in Canada, as measured by deposits, revenues, and market capitalization. The bank serves seventeen million clients and has 80,100 employees worldwide. The company corporate headquarters are located in Toronto,...
among others. His compositions have been performed throughout North America and in Europe.
Born in Maracaibo
Maracaibo
Maracaibo is a city and municipality located in northwestern Venezuela off the western coast of the Lake Maracaibo. It is the second-largest city in the country after the national capital Caracas and the capital of Zulia state...
, Ross entered The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto in 1980, earning an Associate diploma there in 1985. While there he studied music composition with Samuel Dolin
Samuel Dolin
Samuel Joseph Dolin was a Canadian composer, music educator, and arts administrator. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre and a founding member of the Canadian League of Composers , he served as the CLC's vice president in 1967-1968 and president from 1969-1973...
. He continued with further studies in music composition at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
where he was a pupil of John Beckwith
John Beckwith (composer)
John Beckwith, CM is a Canadian composer, writer, pianist, teacher, and administrator.Born in Victoria, British Columbia, he studied piano with Alberto Guerrero at the Toronto Conservatory of Music in 1945. He received a Mus.B. in 1947 and a Mus.M. in 1961 from the University of Toronto...
. There he earned a Master of Music
Master of Music
The Master of Music is the first graduate degree in Music awarded by universities and music conservatories. The M.Mus. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy...
in 1986 and a Doctor of Music
Doctor of Music
The Doctor of Music degree , like other doctorates, is an academic degree of the highest level. The D.Mus. is intended for musicians and composers who wish to combine the highest attainments in their area of specialization with doctoral-level academic study in music...
in 1992. In 1988 he was an artist-in-residence at the Banff Centre for the Arts and held the same title at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1989. In 2003 he was composer-in-residence at the Waterford New Music Festival in Ireland.
While a graduate student, he taught on the music faculties of the Royal Conservatory from 1987–1992 and McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
in 1990–1991. Since 1992 he has been a professor of electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
, guitar, music composition, music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
, and orchestration
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
at Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
. He was notably the recipient of Memorial University's President's Award for Outstanding Research in 1999. From 1997–2002 he was director of evening services at St. Thomas' Anglican Church in St. John's, Newfoundland.