John Philip Clark; Teacher, Musician

John Philip Clark, a longtime Harvard School science teacher who played Renaissance music with a four-piece ensemble, has died in Burbank. He was 53.

Clark had taught at the private school in Studio City since 1961 and was responsible for helping the students achieve higher test scores in science, said Steve Shaw, a spokesman for the school.

Clark, a resident of North Hollywood, died Monday of respiratory complications, Shaw said.

Born Jan. 21, 1937, in Merced, he was raised in Mountain View and attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, for two years before receiving a bachelor’s degree in science from UC Riverside. He later received a teaching credential at the University of Redlands.

He taught science at Burbank High School from 1959 to 1961 before starting at Harvard School, where he taught electricity and magnetism, engineering principals, physics and physical science.

For the past 24 years, Clark was chairman of the science department. He also coached a student on the 1987 U.S. team in the International Physics Olympiad. Last year, Stanford University awarded him the Fredrick Emmons Terman Scholastic Award for teaching excellence.

Clark also played Renaissance and baroque music with a group called the Renaissance Revival for 25 years and established a recorder club at Harvard School.

He is survived by a brother, Charles Clark of Mountlake Terrace, Wash.

A memorial service is scheduled for Aug. 26 at St. Saviour’s Chapel at Harvard School, 3700 Coldwater Canyon Ave., Studio City. Burial will be private. Donations can be made in Clark’s name to the John Clark Science Fund at Harvard School. The Valley Funeral Home in Burbank handled the arrangements.