Born in Paris by Greek parents in a cosmopolitan atmosphere, Clio Karabelias grew love for the arts, for ancient cultures and for the music traditions of the Mediterranean and the Orient. She studied musicology and philosophy in Paris and soon after completing her final course of classical harp under the instruction of Professor Helen Breschand, she discovered improvisation.  Clio believes that, “In the West, teaching music in conservatories lacks improvisation and when asked to improvise, many musicians freeze like idiots, because all they know is how to read music sheets.”

Later on, while studying traditional music from Greece and Turkey, she turned to jazz and obtained her masters in Ethnomusicology. Her next step was to learn to play the saz under the instruction of her master Talip Ozkan. Her musical journey led her next to India, where she relocated in 2007. About India, Clio says that, “I have been interested in this world like for ever. Of course, Indian music has a lot in common with the traditional music of the Greeks and the Turkish. They both follow a melody and according to their traditions, what they mean by improvisation is to improvise on a melody or a rhythm. Western music or free jazz are quite different.”

In 1994, Clio Karabelias started performing with orchestras and music ensembles.  She has also played for several music shows and festivals in Paris, Greece and India. In 2004, she improvised for the Olympic Games at Thisseion, using a computer-based sound installation. In 2007, she recorded for the famous Indian cinema composer AR Rahman in Madras. Most recently, she made her debut in Bali next to Helga Sedli at the Mask and Puppet Theatre.  Her future plans involve performing mostly in Europe.