Born in Provence in 1991, Pierre-Emmanuel began violin lessons, aged three, at the Vivaldi Academy in Grenoble. Aged five, he gave his first public concert with Masayuki Kino, the Concertmaster of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. Aged 11, Pierre-Emmanuel met Ivry Gitlis and participated in his 80th birthday concert celebration. The following year, he went to Japan in order to play in several concerts and to participate in a masterclass with Masayuki Kino.
After receiving top prizes from several national competitions, he took part in masterclasses with Teddi Papavrami, Roland Daugareil, Régis Pasquier and Itzhak Perlman. Aged 18, Pierre-Emmanuel was accepted at postgraduate level with Professor Maurice Hasson at the Royal Academy of Music in London, from which he graduated in 2012 with first class honours.
Pierre-Emmanuel has performed in many concerts in France, the UK and Japan. He has performed solo as well as in chamber groups, in concert-halls and venues such as the Chagall Museum in Nice, the Tchec-center in Paris, the Ravel Festival, Hakuba Festival (Japan), O2 Academy and the Ashover Festival.
Whilst specialising in orchestral music, Pierre-Emmanuel also enjoys pop, folk and film music. Since 2009 he has performed at pop gigs, in adaptations, short film music creations and recordings, with artists and composers Joseph Reuben, Vivien Villani, Jamie Abbott, Ed Blunt, J-S Legros and Zophia Amey. Pierre-Emmanuel performed Hugo Bouma’s Duo for Violin and Tenor-Saxophone with jazz saxophonist Tommy Andrews. In 2012 he collaborated with Bruno Mantovani, performing his quintet Blue Girl With Red Wagon.
Royal Academy of Music
London, UK
What or who inspired you to become a professional musician?
A gradual process during childhood, discovering that I could change people’s mind with music, not having to ‘say’ anything with words. Music is often a stronger experience than even powerful words because it leaves space for imagination.
What is your earliest musical memory?
Seeing a dozen violins hanging in a maker’s shop, I remember wanting to play them all and didn’t really like the idea that the maker was choosing one for me... I was about 4.
If you weren’t a musician what would you be?
A hand surgeon.