Dr. Clemens Hellsberg is an Austrian violinist and was Director of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra from 1997 to 2014. He began learning the violin at age 4 ½ with lessons from his father who was a high school music teacher. He studied musicology and ancient history at the University of Vienna, where he received his doctorate in 1980. At the same time he studied violin at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. He was a special forces soldier, a member of the Jagdkommando with the Bundesheer. In 1976 he joined the orchestra of the Vienna State Opera as a 2nd violinist and became the first violinist in 1978. He was selected to join the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in 1980 and became the archivist of the Historic Archive of the Vienna Philharmonic before becoming Vice President of the Orchestra and then serving as Director for 17 years. Dr. Hellsberg has been recognized for his book 'Democracy of the Kings', published in 1992. He retired from the Orchestra in 2016 and serves as the Artistic Director of Aldermatt Swiss Alps Classics.