MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Taneli Clarke has been the Musical Director of Leeds Concert Band since January 2024.

He brings a varied portfolio of musical experience including performing, directing, composing and arranging across a wide variety of genres including all periods of Western art music, military, brass and wind music, contemporary and experimental music and jazz .

As a solo performer Taneli won both Kirklees Young Musician of the Year (2015) and Cumbrian Young Musician of the Year (2014), in doing so becomming the first percussionist to win either competition. He also won the University of Huddersfield Concerto Competition (2014) where he studied under Shaun Crowther (tuba), Chris Bradley (percussion) and Natalia Luis-Bossa & Philip McCann (conducting). As an ensemble performer he is in demand as a freelance musician across orchestras, musicals, brass bands, military bands and big bands.

He is also an experienced composer and arranger with commissions including works for National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain (2013), Huddersfield Choral Society and Black Dyke Band (2015).