James Clark's musical career, spanning over thirty years, encompasses a wide range of musical accomplishment. As a chorister at King's College Cambridge he sang as soloist at the famous 'Nine Lessons and Carols' on Christmas Eve and on many records under Sir David Willcocks. He went on to study both singing and violin at the royal college of Music in London, winning major awards as a singer and prizes as a violinist.

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 from 1984 chamber music became an increasingly important music activity. With them he visited the USA several times and appeared on their discs of Benjamin Britten's chamber music, which was Gramophone Magazine's Chamber Music Record of the Year 1986. He was also active with the Raphael Ensemble, playing regularly on radio and producing several well-received discs of Brahms and Dvorak Sextets.

For five years until 1990 James Clark was leader of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales making over fifty television appearances and over two hundred radio broadcasts with them in Britain and worldwide.

From 1990 to 1998, as leader, James took a major role in the Scottish Chamber Orchestra's artistic development and high profile. He played with them regularly as soloist and director, including concerts at the Edinburgh Festival, in Germany, Italy and Hong Kong. In addition to working with the SCO James worked regularly as guest leader with the Philharmonia and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras, the BBC orchestra in Manchester, London and Wales and smaller chamber groups such as the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and the Nash Ensemble.

As a recitalist with pianist Richard McMahon, James Clark has played all over Britain. Together they have made over twenty radio broadcasts with music ranging from Bach and Purcell and the classical repertoire through to Stravinsky, Sibelius and works by living composers, including the first live radio performance of Sally Beamish's violin sonata 'Winter Trees'. James's other musical interests include voluntary educational work in Bosnia, Africa and India.

Since 1999 James Clark has been Concertmaster of the Philharmonia Orchestra, London, one of the world's finest and most recorded symphony orchestras.