"We are about fifteen musicians with about twenty passports, smiles Simone Menezes. We met in 2019 with the desire to create an ensemble capable of linking classical music to everyone with artistic projects that contain real values and exceptional artistic work ”. Each musician has a high level career as a soloist or chamber musician. Our goal is to build an exceptional musical group where everyone brings a real personality, goes beyond their prejudices and wishes to give meaning to their commitment. We want to create a space for exchange and experimentation on interpretation as well as on the renewal of ways of working together around joy and sharing.
Conductor : Simone Menezes
Violin : Nicolas Dupont
Based in Brussels since 2017, Nicolas travels as a soloist, with the pianists Olga Kirpicheva, Yunus Tuncalı and Giulio Potenza, or as a violinist of the Kugoni Trio, the Roeland Hendrikx Ensemble, the Malibran Quartet, the Urban Piano Quartet, Trio Argenta and Duo Andaluza. His discography already contains more than ten records. In the 2020-2021 season, five new albums will be released, including: Brahms / Vasks with his Urban Piano Quartet, a duet record with guitarist Stijn Konings, a duet record with pianist Olga Kirpicheva and a record dedicated to the music of Piet Swerts and Camille Saint-Saëns with the Roeland Hendrikx Ensemble.
Violin : Manon Galy
Born in 1996 in Toulouse, Manon Galy started playing the violin at the age of 7. She then continued her musical studies at the CRR in Paris with Suzanne Gessner and at 16 years old at the CNSM in the class of Roland Daugareil. Manon is the winner of several international competitions including UFAM (first prize named first) in Paris in 2009 and Andrea Postacchini (Italy, 4th prize) in 2010. Tatiana Zolozova notices her during an audition and invites her to the prestigious international competition from the Moscow conservatory for which she obtained the 2nd prize. During this competition, the Vladimir SPIVAKOV Foundation awarded him a special prize and invited him to Moscow for a recital. In 2021, she won first prize from the city of Lyon in the Lyon international chamber music competition.
Viola : Clement Holvoet
After having been principal viola of the European Union Youth Orchestra, playing under the direction of Vladimir Ashkenazy, Vasily Petrenko and Bernard Haitink, the Tournaisian Clément Holvoet had the chance to perform in the most beautiful halls (Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Carnegie Hall in New York…). After joining the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Clément now focuses his concert activity on chamber music. He is a founding member violist of the Urban Piano Quartet, winner of the Supernova 2019 competition and the Nordic Strings International Competition 2020. Their debut album, dedicated to Johannes Brahms and Peteris Vasks, was released in March 2021 (Etcetera records).
Viola : Clement Holvoet
After having been principal viola of the European Union Youth Orchestra, playing under the direction of Vladimir Ashkenazy, Vasily Petrenko and Bernard Haitink, the Tournaisian Clément Holvoet had the chance to perform in the most beautiful halls (Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Carnegie Hall in New York…). After joining the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Clément now focuses his concert activity on chamber music. He is a founding member violist of the Urban Piano Quartet, winner of the Supernova 2019 competition and the Nordic Strings International Competition 2020. Their debut album, dedicated to Johannes Brahms and Peteris Vasks, was released in March 2021 (Etcetera records).
Cello : Kacper Nowak
Born in Poland, Kacper Nowak began playing cello at the age of eight. A year later, he won the competition in Liezen, Austria, he then became a member of the National Foundation for Gifted Children. Between 2014 and 2017, Kacper Nowak trained at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, under the direction of Gary Hoffman. In May 2019, Kacper won the first prize in the Solo category at the “Madrid International Competition”. In January 2020, he won with the Urban Piano Quartet the "Nordic Strings Competition" ensuring them a tour in the most prestigious concert halls in China during the 2021/2022 season. In 2020, Kacper wins the Gold Medal at the "Vienna International Music Competition".
Double bass : Adrien Tyberghein
Musician and composer, Adrien began playing music at the age of 6, he graduated from the National Conservatory of Music and Dance in Paris and from the Royal Conservatory of Mons. He also followed a jazz and improvised music training at the Didier Lockwood Center for Improvised Music. In the field of audio-visual arts, he completed a video and sound training at the Fresnoy - Studio National des Arts Contemporains. He won several prizes during his career as a musician (named “soloist rising star” in Belgium, “Young Talent of the Year”, ...). In 2020, Adrien writes, produces and composes “Seul Contre Basse”, a solo project on stage, transdisciplinary mixing music, theater, dance, video and installation. That same year, he wrote his future solo recital and record "Odyssey", scheduled for the start of the 2021 school year.
Double bass : Adrien Tyberghein
Musician and composer, Adrien began playing music at the age of 6, he graduated from the National Conservatory of Music and Dance in Paris and from the Royal Conservatory of Mons. He also followed a jazz and improvised music training at the Didier Lockwood Center for Improvised Music. In the field of audio-visual arts, he completed a video and sound training at the Fresnoy - Studio National des Arts Contemporains. He won several prizes during his career as a musician (named “soloist rising star” in Belgium, “Young Talent of the Year”, ...). In 2020, Adrien writes, produces and composes “Seul Contre Basse”, a solo project on stage, transdisciplinary mixing music, theater, dance, video and installation. That same year, he wrote his future solo recital and record "Odyssey", scheduled for the start of the 2021 school year.
Piano : Mara Dobresco
Franco-Romanian pianist Mara Dobresco gives recitals in France, Romania, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria Bulgaria, Russia, Argentina, Australia, Japan, and makes her US debut in Chicago and New York. At the same time, she made recordings for Radio France, Radio Suisse Romande and Radio and Television Nationale Roumaine. Mara Dobresco is also interested in the dramaturgy of musical gesture and participates in numerous projects based on the intersection of theater, literature and music. She is also a fervent performer of the contemporary repertoire and regularly collaborates with many composers.
Flute : Ludivine Moreau
Flautist Ludivine Moreau began her studies in her hometown: Toulouse. After a Master's degree at the CNSMD in Lyon, she obtained her contemporary DAI at the CNSMD in Paris. She works regularly with many European orchestras such as the National Orchestra of France, the Opéra Vlaanderen of Belgium, the Paris Opera, the Paris Chamber Orchestra… Passionate about chamber music, she creates the Duo Ginkgo with Lucie Berthomier in 2014. In 2020 the Alpha ensemble is created with its friends from the National Orchestra of Lille and the Republican Guard, the Lumahé trio is born with Marwan Dafir and Héloïse Mas and a contemporary music ensemble is in production.
Flute : Raquele Magalhaes
Raquele Magalhaes studied at the CNSMD in Parus and Lyon and received the First Prize in flute in the class of Alain Marion and Sophie Cherrier, and completed a Third Cycle of Improvement with Philippe Bernold in Lyon. She is the winner of the International Maria Canals, Jeunesses Musicales and five 1st Prizes at National Competitions in Brazil. His solo career began at age 11, with the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra, the Rio de Janeiro Symphony Orchestra, and the Piracicaba Orchestra. Then she continued with the Orchester de Lyon, the Orchester des Pays de Savoie, the Orchester des Laureates du Conservatoire, the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ensemble Link Together, the Orquestra Sinfonica de Galicia. In 2021, Raquele Magalhaes has just played as a soloist and recorded a disc for Aldilà Records with L'Orquesta Sinfonia Camera Musicae.
Raquele Magalhaes studied at the CNSMD in Parus and Lyon and received the First Prize in flute in the class of Alain Marion and Sophie Cherrier, and completed a Third Cycle of Improvement with Philippe Bernold in Lyon. She is the winner of the International Maria Canals, Jeunesses Musicales and five 1st Prizes at National Competitions in Brazil. His solo career began at age 11, with the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra, the Rio de Janeiro Symphony Orchestra, and the Piracicaba Orchestra. Then she continued with the Orchester de Lyon, the Orchester des Pays de Savoie, the Orchester des Laureates du Conservatoire, the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ensemble Link Together, the Orquestra Sinfonica de Galicia. In 2021, Raquele Magalhaes has just played as a soloist and recorded a disc for Aldilà Records with L'Orquesta Sinfonia Camera Musicae.
Clarinet : Christian Laborie
Born in 1973 in Le Havre, Christian Laborie began his musical studies in his hometown. Admitted in 1993 to the CNSM of Lyon in the class of Jacques Di Donato, he obtained in 1997 a first prize for clarinet. Holder of the Certificate of Aptitude of clarinet teacher, he taught at the Conservatory of the 19th arrondissement of Paris from 1998 to 2000 as well as at the music school of Limonest (Rhône). He is principal clarinet of the Les Siècles orchestra, playing on historical instruments, notably for Les Ambassadeurs - La Grande Ecurie. He has performed extensively for the Opéra de Lyon, as well as for the Ensemble Intercontemporain. His career is particularly eclectic, with research in experimental improvised music.
Oboe : Timothée Vendeville
Timothée Vendeville begins the oboe in Albi. He studied at the Toulouse Conservatory and at the Haute Ecole des Arts du Rhin in Strasbourg. Currently he is a student at the Hochschule in Munich in the class of François Leleux in the baroque oboe class. As part of his Strasbourg studies he had the opportunity to be an academist in the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Marko Letonja, Theodor Guschlbauer and Axel Kober. In 2019, he won the Michel Lucas prize, a prize awarded by the CIC which selects a student in each major region of France through a multi-instrument competition. He participated in the French Youth Orchestra with the conductor Fabien Gabel.
Bassoon : Jules Postel
Jules Postel is currently in the 3rd year of the bassoon license at the CNSM in the class of Gilbert Audin. Originally from Strasbourg, he studied bassoon and conducting at the Strasbourg Conservatory before moving to Paris where he now lives. He is currently pursuing his studies and his various personal projects at the CNSMDP.
Bassoon : Jules Postel
Jules Postel is currently in the 3rd year of the bassoon license at the CNSM in the class of Gilbert Audin. Originally from Strasbourg, he studied bassoon and conducting at the Strasbourg Conservatory before moving to Paris where he now lives. He is currently pursuing his studies and his various personal projects at the CNSMDP.
Horn : Solène Souchères
Born in 1997 in Douai in the north of France, Solène was attracted to her youngest age by the sound of the horn of her father Guy Souchères, also horn player, she very early began her musical studies at the conservatory of Douai. She joined the prestigious Conservatory of Music and Dance in Paris in the class of Jacques Deleplancque. In 2019 she obtained her license and she is still studying at the institution today. From an early age, Solène has wanted to put her talents at the service of the orchestra and very early she was able to achieve many lasting partnerships with the biggest French orchestras: L’Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Paris, L’Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, the Paris Chamber Orchestra for example, but also abroad like the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, and in particular in Germany where, since 2018 she is invited as solo horn and / or co-soloist within the very renowned Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester.
Born in 1997 in Douai in the north of France, Solène was attracted to her youngest age by the sound of the horn of her father Guy Souchères, also horn player, she very early began her musical studies at the conservatory of Douai. She joined the prestigious Conservatory of Music and Dance in Paris in the class of Jacques Deleplancque. In 2019 she obtained her license and she is still studying at the institution today. From an early age, Solène has wanted to put her talents at the service of the orchestra and very early she was able to achieve many lasting partnerships with the biggest French orchestras: L’Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Paris, L’Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, the Paris Chamber Orchestra for example, but also abroad like the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, and in particular in Germany where, since 2018 she is invited as solo horn and / or co-soloist within the very renowned Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester.
Photo © JB Millot