We’re thrilled to be welcoming you to the BSO! How does it feel to be joining us?
Thank you! I’m absolutely delighted to be joining the BSO — it has such a rich history, and to be a small part of that is so exciting. The whole Orchestra and BSO team have been so welcoming and supportive throughout my trial, and I couldn’t be happier to join this stellar viola section. It is such a multi-faceted orchestra, and I love how I’ll be able to spend some time each year playing opera at the Grange Festival, as well as the symphonic works which I love so much.
Tell us about your musical journey so far?
I was lucky enough to grow up in a supportive, musical family. My mother is a piano teacher, my four sisters all played to a high standard, and my dad is very patient! I started playing the piano at five, and began playing viola at around seven, so music has always been in my life. I had access to wonderful teachers from a very early age, and always seemed to have the right teacher at the right time. After beginning with Jacky Woods, I went on to study with Jonathan Barritt, Martin Outram, Simon Rowland Jones, and Andriy Viytovych at the Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Music and continue to receive mentorship from Amélie Roussel.
I have freelanced with orchestras such as Sinfonia of London, Aurora Orchestra, and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, and then Mr Viytovych invited me to sit co-principal viola next to him in the orchestra of Les Arts Valencia, for the majority of the six months leading up to my trial with BSO. This was a wonderful learning experience for me, with a combination of both Opera and symphonic concerts, next to one of the true greats of the viola, who was guiding me every step of the way. This also led to a fair bit of principal work with the same orchestra, and pushed me far out of my comfort zone. I came back to the UK, immediately got stuck into my BSO trial…and the rest is history!
What’s your favourite piece of all time to play?
That’s a tough one! I don’t know if I can call it my all-time favourite, but I find time every day to play some Bach – in particular the violin Sonatas and Partitas. Of course, the music is genius, but technically they are a great way to stay in shape too. Same goes for the Hindemith solo sonatas. In the orchestra – I love playing Mahler, Strauss, Brahms, Mozart… it’s a cliche, but I try to find something I love in whatever I’m working on, but I enjoy anything that keeps me technically challenged and my fingers warm!
If you could go back in time (or stay in current time) and meet one composer or musician, who would it be?
Perhaps Benjamin Britten. I think he’s a fascinating man, with such charming, intricate, gripping music. It’s rare that a composer is so versatile. His quartets, his operas, his orchestral works (I’ve been obsessed with his violin concerto for years, and loved playing it last season with Clara Jumi-Kang and Mark Wigglesworth — what a concert!) are all so uniquely beautiful, and I imagine he would be a very interesting conversation. And he was a violist, so there’s no doubt we’d get on well.
What’s the best thing about being a professional musician?
I’ll be honest – I was offered this job in between my post graduate final recital, and my graduation, so I think it’s best you ask me this in a few years – but the idea that I get to play my viola for a living is something I am truly grateful for, it’s what I really love to do.
Why are you looking forward to living on the South Coast?
I’ve just moved down to Poole at the beginning of September after several years of living in London followed by traveling as a freelancer and I am really looking forward to coastal living. It’s such a beautiful part of the country and being by the sea will be a positive change. I would love to join an open water swimming group and I will be signing up for an allotment as soon as I can!
You can see Clem on stage throughout the season. To find out what’s coming up click here.
Watch Clem play a solo in one of our previous concerts below…