Hélène Clément, viola
Hélène Clément, viola
Hélène Clément is an internationally acclaimed French violist celebrated for her rich, expressive playing, deep dedication to chamber music, and inspiring contributions to the next generation of musicians. Born in France in 1988, Clément has carved out a remarkable career that bridges solo, chamber, and orchestral work, while embracing her adopted musical home in the UK since moving to London in 2013.
From an early age, Clément was drawn to the voice of the viola — its warmth, subtlety, and emotional depth. Her ferocious enthusiasm for chamber music and the viola repertoire has led her to collaborate with a wide range of artists, ensembles, and composers, continually expanding her musical horizons. She performs regularly in many of the world’s most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall in New York, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Konzerthaus in Berlin, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Wigmore Hall in London, the Cité de la Musique in Paris, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, and the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.
Clément’s chamber music collaborators are among the most distinguished artists of our time, including Mitsuko Uchida, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Nicolas Altstaedt, Benjamin Grosvenor, Alexander Melnikov, and Peter Wispelwey, as well as esteemed ensembles like the Brentano String Quartet and the Nash Ensemble. She is a regular participant at elite international festivals such as the Marlboro Music Festival in the United States and Prussia Cove in the UK, both known for their focus on deep musical collaboration and artistic exploration.
As the violist of the Doric String Quartet from 2013 to 2024, Clément was an integral part of one of Europe’s leading chamber ensembles. With the quartet, she performed in major venues across Europe, North America, Asia, Israel, Australia, and New Zealand, bringing both passion and precision to a broad repertoire ranging from Haydn to contemporary commissions. The Doric String Quartet records exclusively with Chandos Records, and their critically acclaimed discography includes works by Haydn, Britten, Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Schubert, among others. Their performances were praised for their clarity, insight, and unity, with Clément’s playing bringing a radiant inner voice to the ensemble’s finely honed sound.
In addition to her performance career, Clément is a passionate teacher and mentor. She teaches viola and chamber music at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she nurtures a new generation of players with the same energy and curiosity that define her own artistry. She is also one of the Artistic Directors of the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival, where she plays a key role in guiding young professionals through an intensive week of coaching, rehearsals, and performances. Her work at the festival emphasizes musical exchange, mentorship, and the spirit of shared discovery.
Clément performs on a historically significant 1843 Italian viola by Francesco Giussani, once owned by Frank Bridge and later by Benjamin Britten, who composed many of his key works with this very instrument in mind. The viola is generously on loan from Britten Pears Arts. This connection to British musical heritage holds deep meaning for Clément, who has performed and recorded works by both Bridge and Britten, including a Chandos recording with Alasdair Beatson and Sarah Connolly, honoring the legacy of the instrument and the composers who wrote for it.
Known for her warmth on stage, musical integrity, and the emotional honesty of her playing, Hélène Clément brings depth, intelligence, and poetic nuance to everything she does. Whether in intimate chamber settings, teaching studios, or leading young musicians on the Isle of Mull, she continues to shape and inspire the global chamber music community.