Rodney Clarke (bass-baritone)

Rodney Earl Clarke (born 1978) is a British bass-baritone, soloist and member of the newest Classical Crossover group Vox Fortura

Clarke was born in Greenwich, London and is one of five children. He sang as a boy treble in the choir of St George's Cathedral, Southwark and attended Dulwich College between 1989 and 1996.

Rodney studied singing with Professor Mark Wildman at the Royal Academy of Music where he was awarded the Richard Lewis/Jean Shanks Award 2001 and generously supported by the Sir Peter Moores Foundation. In May 2014, he was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music for his services and contributions to the music industry.

Hailed by Gramophone as a “singer to be watched”, Rodney Earl Clarke is recognised for his versatility in performance. At home with the music of 1940-1960 Broadway, Rodney has appeared in many shows including Carmen Jones at the Royal Festival Hall, London, Kismet at the English National Opera, Jude Kelly's award-winning production of Bernstein's On the Town, Kenneth Branagh's epic film version of Mozart's The Magic Flute, Sondheim’s 80th Birthday Celebration Prom, The Broadway Sound BBC Prom with the John Wilson Orchestra, Jake in Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle and Crown in Porgy & Bess under the direction of John Doyle with the Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen. He also starred in Raymond Gubbay's popular show Crazy for Gershwin which regularly tours the UK. Rodney was delighted to join the BBC’s team of TV presenters in the 2014 Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Rodney travelled to Australia in 2014 where he performed songs from the Gershwin Songbook alongside Australian soprano Julie Lea Goodwin and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Boston Pops Orchestra conductor Keith Lockhart. He recently performed the bass solos in Handel's Messiah at the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Philharmonia under the baton of Brett Weymark and started 2016 with an arena tour of Best of Broadway hits concert with the Czech Philharmonic under the baton of Keith Lockhart.

In 2016 he became a member of the newest Classical crossover group Vox Fortura. They reached the semi finalists of Britain's Got Talent and were touted as the next Il Divo described by judge Alesha Dixon as "four sexy, chocolate men...polished to perfection" Albums include 'Heroes' and a new single 'Lament' which featured in the 2016 Silence in the Square, Royal British Legion commemorations of Armistice Day, Trafalgar Square.

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