Faith, Music, and Growing Into Community

When you get to know sophomore Anthony Clark, one of the first things you notice is how deeply music shapes every corner of his life. Music is a shared language in the Clark household. His father is the organist and music director at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross; his mother a trained clarinetist and pianist with deep knowledge of music theory. That environment, Anthony says, shaped him profoundly. “It gave me opportunities and conversations most kids don’t have with their parents,” he reflects. “It deepened our relationship.”

A graduate of St. Paul’s Choir School, Anthony arrived at Xaverian with a foundation most young musicians only dream about. “I’ve been singing pretty much my whole life,” he says, “and I started composing back in fifth grade. Those early pieces weren’t anything special,” he adds, “but I found experimenting with sound exciting.” Anthony’s musical world is rooted in sacred tradition. He has written numerous compositions over the years, taking inspiration from chant, psalms, and other scripture. His favorite instrument to compose for is the human voice, though the organ holds a growing place in his heart. One recent composition, a four-movement organ suite, Ave Maria, was influenced by Marian antiphons and traditional hymn tunes, he says. It’s currently in the process of being published by Sacred Music Library. “Lately I’ve been trying to test the limits of theory,” he explains. “I love creating harmonies that sound a little outlandish at first but resolve beautifully.” 

Despite his talent, Anthony hasn’t always enjoyed being in the spotlight. His class at St. Paul’s Choir School had just 40 students, and he admits that starting high school felt overwhelming. “At first, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t crazy about the idea of going to Xaverian,” he says. “It felt big. It felt like a ‘regular school.’” However, upon touring the school Anthony witnessed the strength of Xaverian’s music program, met faculty who cared, and realized the community was far more welcoming and personable than he expected. “I thought maybe I could just hide for four years,” he says, “but I quickly figured out once I got here that it wouldn’t work. I needed to get involved. I needed to talk to teachers. I needed to connect with people. I realized I’d be unhappy if I didn’t.” 

Joining the X-Men vocal ensemble tested his comfort zone. Their upbeat, contemporary music was far from the sacred choral tradition to which he was accustomed, but the experience opened doors for him. “It wasn’t a style I ever imagined myself singing, but I’m really glad I joined,” he says. “It’s helped me branch out and feel more connected here.” Today, Anthony is also part of Xaverian’s chamber choir, Schola Cantorum, rehearsing nearly every day. He was one of three students to be accepted into the MMEA Senior District Festival (alongside Michael Clark ’26 and Cooper Marino ’27), and the only student who scored high enough to be recommended for the Massachusetts All-State Chorus. 

These experiences have offered him clarity about the future. Anthony hopes to become a church music director one day like his dad, a calling that blends his love of the organ with his lifelong background in sacred choral music. 

“Music expresses faith in a transcendent way,” he says. “The words are powerful, but the music elevates them.” For Anthony, all of it comes back to the same place: the joy of creating, the discipline of practice, and the call to offer something beautiful.