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Mario Klemens was born October 3, 1936 in Chlumec nad Cidlinou. His father was a printer and journalist, and his mother worked as a shop assistant in the local confectionery until her marriage, and later she worked in the ČSAD bus company. Mario’s family was deeply engaged in theatre and music. His grandmother led a music school in Chlumec, and his uncles and aunts were professionally involved in theatre and music as well. Already as a little boy, Mario learnt to play the piano, oboe, clarinet, and violin. In 1947 he was admitted to an elite eight-year grammar school in Poděbrady, which was modelled after English grammar schools. Among his schoolmates were boys who later became important personalities, such as Miloš Forman, Václav Havel or Milan Jirásek. However, the school functioned for only two years, and when it was closed down following a school system reform, the students continued studying at a regular grammar school and an eleven-year-school. Mario graduated in 1954. Then he went to study conducting under V. Smetáček at the State Conservatoire in Prague, from which he graduated in 1959. He briefly worked in Liberec as a teacher, and in 1961 he was admitted to the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (AMU). In 1966 he won an international competition for conductors in Besançon. Even before completing his studies, he was offered to work as a conductor in the J. K. Tyl Theatre in Pilsen. While in Pilsen, he also led the Orchestral Association of West Bohemian Teachers which played oratory music as well as concert compositions. In 1970 he went to work for the Czechoslovak State Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances and he began cooperating with the foremost music ensembles (Czech Philharmonic, Prague Symphony Orchestra (FOK), Slovak Philharmonic, and others). Two years later he went to Košice in Slovakia, where he worked as a conductor of the Košice Philharmonic until 1976. After his return to Prague he began to teach conducting and orchestra play at the Prague Conservatoire. In 1979 he became a conductor in the FISYO (Film Symphonic Orchestra), and he held this position until 1990 when the orchestra became disbanded. With this ensemble he recorded music to more than 150 Czech and foreign films. In 1990-1994 he taught at the Prague Conservatoire. At present he collaborates with many Czech and foreign recording companies.
