Dr. Mark Ross Clark
Presenter of Singergetics Workshops
Publications & Venues
Dr. Clark has been performing his Singer-getic Workshops since 2002, following the publishing of his textbook, Singing, Acting, and Movement in Opera (Indiana University Press). The book was written for his undergraduate and graduate workshop classes at Indiana University, where he was an Associate Professor and Director 1996-2006.
His workshops, which have been presented in universities throughout the country, have in the last five years been featured at NATS regional conventions for the Tex-homa region, the Southern region, and the mid-Atlantic region for over one hundred student (and faculty) participants in each venue.
With the publishing of his second book, Guide to the Aria Repertoire (Indiana University Press, 2007), Clark has added a new component of dramatic coaching that can be added to the Singer-getic participation exercises, or set as an extra session.
His newest book, The Broadway Song, A Singer’s Guide, was published by Oxford University Press in 2015. It chronicles the development of over 100 Broadway Songs as it brings new insights into the study of traditional and lessor known songs of the contemporary Broadway repertoire.
The forward is written by Kristin Chenoweth, and each song has an interview piece with the composers, lyricists, directors, composers, and performers associated with the songs. Interviews with composers Steven Schwartz, John Cander, Harvey Schmidt, Sheldon Harnick, Jo Loesser, Charles Strouse, Andrew Lippa, Jerry Herman, John Bucchino, and performers associated with the analyzed songs: John Cullum, Liz Callaway, Carolee Carmello, Kerri Butler, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Leslie Caron, Christine Ebersole, Jeremy Jordan, Matthew Morrison, Jonathan Groff, Julia Migenes, Marc Kudisch, Elaine Paige, and Adam Pascal- to only name a few of those interviewed.
Career & Expertise.
Mark Ross Clark has in his teaching, workshop presentations, and authoring books- brought together and “synergized” all of his background experience in the Arts.
Beginning his career as a singer after receiving a performance voice degree and a masters in vocal pedagogy from Indiana University, and studying with legendary singer/actor Giorgio Tozzi, he toured with the Roger Wagner Chorale for five years nationally and internationally; created and toured his own baritone-soprano duo; was a contract singer with the Giessen Germany Stadttheater for three years.
Returning to the States, he followed an interest in opera directing by studying with Wesley Balk, and entering the Opera Production doctoral program at the University of Washington in Seattle, studying opera directing, drama, and art. At the same time, he accepted a position as Director of Opera at Pacific University (CA) and Artistic Director of the Stockton Opera.
Upon receiving his degree and teaching and directing at UW for one year, Dr. Clark accepted a faculty/administration position with the renowned Indiana University Opera Theater, directing and producing over fifty operas in the years 1996-2006.
He has directed in England, Brazil, and for the National Theatre of Taiwan in Taipei. His regional opera/university guest directing assignments have included two original productions at the University of North Carolina-Greeensboro Opera; Roanoke (VA) Opera; Stockton (CA) Opera; Cedar Rapids (IA) Opera; Festival (CA) Opera.
Dr. Clark frequently teaches and has directed-for CCM in Lucca, Italy; Music in the Marche in Mondavio, Italy; OperaMaya in Tulum, Mexico; Pepperdine University in Heidelberg, Germany. Presently, Clark is the Director of Opera and Musical Theater at the University of Louisiana in Monroe, and also is the Artistic Director of the Louisiana Opera.
In addition to his opera directing and producing duties at ULM, Dr. Clark teaches beginning acting, advanced acting, and directing.
After earning his teaching credential from the globally recognized Alexander Technique International professional organization, he began to teach the Alexander Technique classes at the University and integrating essential principles of the Alexander Technique into his workshops.
He has directed over 100 productions of opera, operetta, musical theatre, and plays. In the last two years at the University of Louisiana Clark has directed A Streetcar Named Desire and Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Barefoot in the Park. Also at the University he’s recently directed Street Scene, Addams Family, Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd, HMS Pinafore, Don Pasquale (for the Louisiana Opera), and Suor Angelica for Music in the Marche in Mondavio, Italy.
Clark has taught and directed 12 singers who have appeared on the Metropolitan Opera stage, and on Broadway. Among his many former students who have had significant careers, he has worked with Lawrence Brownlee, Ailyn Perez, Kyle Ketelsen, Jamie Barton, and Kate Lindsey. He is an award-winning stage director, having been given that honor of first prize by the National Opera Association for a new production of Carlisle Floyd's Susannah at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro. Clark has been asked to adjudicate the Metropolitan Opera Regional Auditions a number of times - in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Kansas City, and South Carolina.