James Clark’s musical career, spanning over thirty years, encompasses a wide range of accomplishment. Having been a chorister at King’s College Cambridge, he went on to study both singing and violin at the Royal College of Music in London.

In 1981 he was invited by Claudio Abbado to lead the European Youth Orchestra, and subsequently became the first Leader of the newly formed Chamber Orchestra of Europe working with some of the world’s greatest musicians including Solti, Pollini, Barenboim and Abbado.

As a member of the Endellion Quartet and Raphael Ensemble from 1984, chamber music became an increasingly important music activity, with regular radio broadcasts and well-received discs of Brahms and Dvořák Sextets, and all the Benjamin Britten Quartet music. James has played chamber music with many world class musicians, including Steven Isserlis, Stephen Kovacevich, Michael Pletnev, Michael Collins and Gustav Ravinius. He also has a continuing partnership with pianist Richard McMahon - together they have played many performances worldwide and given over twenty radio broadcasts.

From 1985 to 1990 James Clark was Leader of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, appearing in over sixty TV broadcasts and from 1990 to 1998 he took a major role in the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s artistic development and high profile as Leader. With them he played many times as director and as soloist in concert and on disc - amongst his recordings are the Bach Double Violin Concerto with Joji Hattori and Two Maxwell Davies concertos – including MacDonald Dances, written specially for James and the SCO.

Since 1999 James has been Concert Master of the Philharmonia Orchestra, and was also appointed Leader of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in 2004, holding both positions concurrently. He is also in demand as guest Leader and chamber musician across Britain and Europe, having appeared as Guest Leader with the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam and Tonhalle Orchestra in Zurich as well as with every major Symphony Orchestra in the UK.

Conducting is an increasingly important part of James’s life. In the last few years, he has conducted the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in several concerts and broadcasts, and made his début with the Philharmonia Orchestra in 2004. He has recently, at the invitation of Gustavo Dudamel, conducted the Simon Bolivár Orchestra of Venezuela. He has returned to Venezuela to teach and coach the other youth orchestras as part of El Sistema.

James is also in demand for masterclasses and youth orchestra coaching. This year he is preparing the National Youth Orchestra as rehearsal conductor in performances of Berio’s Sinfonia and the Lutoslawski Concerto for Orchestra.

James’s other musical interests include voluntary educational work in Africa and in Bosnia, where he worked with children directly affected by the War of the early 1990s. He was one of the first musicians to give recitals in Sarajevo and Mostar after the ceasefire.

James lives near Liverpool with his acupuncturist wife and four children.

The Philharmonia's Concert Master's Chair is endowed by Pierre and Sandra Bernheim.