Biography

British Violist Clement Pickering has achieved early success in his career as an accomplished and resourceful violist. Clement will assume his appointment as Principal Viola of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra from September 2025.

 

As an orchestral musician, Clement has been invited by the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana to play as Co-Principal Viola for two extended periods, which involved stepping in as Acting Principal Viola for numerous concerts under conductors Sir Mark Elder and James Gaffigan, including a full run of Wagner’s Die Fliegende Holländer. Clement has freelanced with orchestras including the Sinfonia of London (John Wilson), the Aurora Orchestra (Nicholas Collon) and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.

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Clement completed his Undergraduate studies with First Class Honours from the Royal Academy of Music, as a student of Martin Outram, followed by a Master's degree at the Royal College of Music, where he studied with Andriy Viytovych and Simon Rowland-Jones as a full scholarship holder. Clement’s influential teachers also include Jonathan Barritt and Amelie Roussel. Additionally, he has benefited from lessons and masterclasses from renowned violists including Timothy Ridout, Lawrence Power, Wolfram Christ (former 1st solo violist of the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra) and Thomas Riebl, with whom he participated in the University of Mozart summer academy, in Salzburg and historical performance with Annette Isserlis. As a chamber musician, Clement studied with violinist Gyorgy Pauk. 

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Clement has performed at the Newbury Spring Festival and Menuhin Hall as part of chamber music concerts for early-career professionals organised by Maiastra. Clement has also performed in venues such as Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican Centre, Royal Festival Hall and more.

 

Clement plays on a viola which was made in  c.1750, which he affectionately calls ‘Lionel’. His bow is an E.A. Ouchard on loan from the Aidan Woodcock Charitable Trust.