Oscar Peterson Program Artistic Director Appointed to Order of Canada

Published on December 19, 2024

Colin Clarke has been appointed as Member of the Order of Canada

Colin Clarke, Artistic Director, The Oscar Peterson Program

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada and a patron of The Royal Conservatory, has made 88 new appointments to the Order of Canada. Colin Clarke, Artistic Director of The Oscar Peterson Program at The Royal Conservatory’s Oscar Peterson School of Music, is one of the appointees announced on December 18, 2024.

Per the appointee list, Mr. Clarke was recognized for his work as “the founder and artistic director of the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra program. Beloved by students, conductors and composers alike, he is a transformational educator who has made learning and playing music accessible to underserved groups in the Greater Toronto Area.”

On behalf of The Royal Conservatory of Music, I wholeheartedly offer my sincerest congratulations to Colin on his well-deserved appointment to the Order of Canada. Under his leadership, The Royal Conservatory’s Oscar Peterson Program has been transformational in offering the highest calibre of music education to underserved youth and we could not be prouder.

Alexander Brose
Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO
The Royal Conservatory

The Royal Conservatory’s Oscar Peterson Program is a scholarship program that provides high-quality comprehensive musical training, 100% tuition-free, to underserved youth from across the Greater Toronto Area, and was created to uphold Dr. Peterson’s belief that music education should be available to everyone. Mr. Clarke was appointed as Artistic Director of the Program in January 2022 and has been a driving force since its launch in the Fall of 2022.

I am overwhelmed with gratitude to have been recognized and am humbled to know that the work that I am passionate about resonates with others. This is a joyous occasion, raising the profile on the importance of music and music education, and I feel blessed for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of youth every day.

Colin Clarke
Artistic Director, The Oscar Peterson Program
The Royal Conservatory

The Order of Canada is the cornerstone of the Canadian Honours System. Created in 1967, it recognizes people across all sectors of society who have made extraordinary and sustained contributions to Canada. 8,000 outstanding individuals have been appointed to the Order of Canada thus far including six members of the RCM's Board of Directors, 52 Honorary Fellows of The Royal Conservatory, numerous faculty of the RCM's three schools in Toronto including Adrianne Pieczonka and Judy Loman of The Glenn Gould School, and countless RCM alumni including Ryan Reynolds who was part of the same set of appointments as Mr. Clarke.