John Viscardi & Kelly Clarke
Classic Lyric Arts Vice President and Secretary of the Board Kelly Clarke is a distinguished advocate for opera and music education for all. She is on the board of and a former mentor for ArtSmart, a nonprofit which transforms the lives of youth in under-resourced communities across the US through tuition-free music lessons and mentorship. Kelly has also spent time working with the San Francisco Opera Guild to bring opera performances to schools across the Bay Area, and was a voice teacher and mentor in San Francisco schools while maintaining a busy private voice studio.
Her personal transformative journey through opera, combined with her extensive experience as a teaching artist and mezzo-soprano, has deeply connected her to the CLA mission to impact the lives of all talented artists, regardless of financial capability. She hopes to create a society of passion and patronship using events and advocacy campaigns to inspire enthusiasm for the arts with new and existing contacts in New York City and San Francisco.
Kelly Clarke
“The proof of CLA's ability to transform young artists' paths can be seen in CLA's incredible alumni, many of whom I have had the pleasure of hearing perform live." – Kelly Clarke.
Kelly is stellar at generating excitement around opera and has hosted events for CLA, served on our audition panel, and shared her expertise in events and fundraising. Her zest for opera and music education have had a lasting impact on the CLA programs.
"I am most excited by witnessing the captivating singing and acting that these artists present to audiences around New York City and abroad.” – Kelly Clarke.
Her enthusiasm for CLA is also evident in her passionate support of the CLA Named Program Grant Initiative. Kelly has established the Kelly Clarke Artist Grant for Mezzo-Soprani, which sponsors several mezzo-soprani each year to attend the CLA summer programs. These grants go directly to the artists themselves, making possible high-caliber CLA artistic training with little to no financial burden on the artists’ shoulders.
Kelly Clark & 25/26 CLAVA Resident Artist, Laura Soto-Bayomi
“These young singers and pianists represent a really hopeful future for the operatic art form, and they deserve to have the resources and training to be able to carve successful careers in this industry.” – Kelly Clarke.
Kelly’s connection to opera through her experience as a teaching artist and mezzo-soprano is greatly appreciated by the recipients of her grant. In 2026, Kelly sponsored mezzo-soprano Libby Hamilton to attend CLA Mozart.
Libby graduated with her Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music, and most recently performed the roles of Presendia in Dark Sisters with MSM Graduate Opera Theatre and Mrs. Herring in Albert Herring with Chicago Summer Opera. During her time at CLA Mozart, she performed scenes from Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Così fan tutte, and La Clemenza di Tito. While at CLA, Libby shared with us how her grant impacted her artistic growth:
Libby Hamilton
“Without the Kelly Clarke Artist Grant for Mezzo-Soprani, my being here would not have been possible. This has been a life-changing experience. CLA is just so special and I’m so, so beyond thankful. Without this grant, I would not have been able to see this beautiful place, and with Glenn, Raphael, Daniel, and John grow and hone what I do and love what I do.” – Libby Hamilton
The CLA team is deeply grateful to Kelly for her inspirational support of emerging artists and of the CLA mission.
Classic Lyric Arts awarded $166,500 in Named Program Grants for the 2025/26 year, directly supporting emerging artists across our programs. Establishing a Named Program Grant, as Kelly has done, is a meaningful and straightforward way to make a lasting impact. Simply visit the Sponsor an Artist page on the CLA website to complete a short form and choose whether you would like to fund a full or partial sponsorship.