It took me 38 years to arrive where I am, and I’ve now spent 31 of them playing the cello!
The story says that my mother used to put me to bed when I was a kid listening to an LP of Nikolaus Harnoncourt playing Bach Suites; maybe that’s why I chose the cello? Anyway, I’ve never regretted that choice, except when it comes to travel!
As a musician, I’ve had three huge influences. First of all, my teacher Marcio Carneiro. Besides a strong and powerful instrumental technique, he taught me the respect of the text, and the continuous search it requires to discover its infinite richness. As his students, we’d have to watch most of the lessons he was giving; I think that also taught me a great deal about teaching.
I also learnt immensely from singers. I discovered opera while studying in New York, and delved further into it as I joined the Academy of the Zurich Opera House. Singers have a different approach to music, not only because they have to breathe, but also because they have to deal with one more component: words. Words, phrases, which structure the music, and gives a different aspect to rhythm and melody. This completely changed my approach to playing.
And then, the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, of which I was Solo Cello for six amazing tours across Europe. It gave me the opportunity to work closely and extensively with the best conductors there is: Tony Pappano, Herbert Blomstedt, Sir Colin Davis, Philippe Jordan, Franz Welser-Möst… I discovered the German sound, the pleasure of striving for perfection, and the collaboration with my fellow musicians provided me with lifelong friendships, and inspiration for the years to come. Since 2022, I have the honour and the immense pleasure to coach the wonderful young cellists of the Orchestre français des jeunes.
I've been lucky enough to serve as solo cello in many orchestras, such the Badische Staatskapelle in Karlsruhe, where I played my first Tosca in 2016, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, invited by Daniel Harding, the Royal Copenhagen Opera, the Rotterdam Philharmonisch, Les Siècles, on period instrument… I’ve played over fourty different operas, all Beethoven symphonies, all Strauss tone poems, almost all Mahler symphonies.
Since 2019, I’ve settled in Strasbourg, as solo cellist of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, and teach at the Haute École des Arts du Rhin.
What do I teach?
A good musician is the combination of three characters working hand in hand: I call them the Craftman, the Performer, and the Artist.
The Craftman:
The "down to earth" guy, with whom you should spend most of your time, developping not only a solid technique that enables you to face the entire repertoire, but also an efficient way of practicing. He's the one shaping your voice, through your sound and your vibrato, your bow articulation, your shiftings...
I'm a nerd when it comes to bow technique. I believe your sound is your voice, and your voice is 80% of your expressive power. Managing bow speed, weight and place on the string to find the right colour is a complex equation, but it is also immensly rewarding and a great source of comfort, which... is a great anti-stress!
The Performer:
Stress is part of our lives. Like, a BIG part of our lives! And that's ok, we just have to learn how to deal with it! It feels like a taboo in our world, but I want to break it and talk about it. We should work on it, like we do on intonation, and talk about our mental in a more global way. How to focus, how to think while playing...
Sport, yoga, meditation...Yes!
But playing itself can also be
a great anti-stress medecine!
I faced countless auditions and concerts, and I can help you create a routine and a team around you to allow you to perform in the best conditions, just like athletes do.
The Artist:
The heart. But also the head.
Go to concerts, museums, listen to recordings to develop your taste and learn "how to feel more"!
I think helping you broaden your horizons, discover new recordings, books or paintings, is part of a teacher's job, as is helping you go deep into the text, plan your interpretation, strategize, in order to convey YOUR emotions, in the most effective way!
To sum it up, what's my goal as a teacher?
To enable you to get rid of me!
I teach at the Haute École des Arts du Rhin in Strasbourg, (Bachelor, Master and Doctorate).
I also provide one to one coaching, live or remotely.
Don't hesitate to get in touch if you are interested in a lesson or coaching!
