Clio Gould

She made her BBC Proms concerto debut in 1999 with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and has made concerto appearances with the London Sinfonietta, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Ulster Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and Royal Scottish National Orchestra. These concerts cover a broad repertoire, and include many newly commissioned works, some written especially for her.

Clio holds the position of Principal Violin in the London Sinfonietta. In 2002, she was appointed leader of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, becoming the first female leader of a symphony orchestra in London – a position she held until 2016. She was Artistic Director of the Scottish Ensemble from 1993 to 2005.

She is increasingly involved in the performance of contemporary solo repertoire, and has worked with many leading composers. UK premieres she has given include John Adams’s Road Movies for violin and piano and Anthèmes II for violin and live electronics by Pierre Boulez at Southbank Centre’s celebration of the composer’s 75th birthday. She gave the UK premiere performance of Oliver Knussen’s Violin Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in the 2003 Aldeburgh Festival, with the composer conducting. She has since performed the concerto in Japan, Finland, Gothenburg and Budapest.

Clio plays the Rutson Stradivarius of 1694, which has generously been lent to her by the Royal Academy of Music, where she regularly directs the Sainsbury Royal Academy Soloists. In 1999 she was awarded Honorary Membership of the Academy.