In 2010, Raphaël Pidoux, cellist with the Trio Wanderer and professor at the CNSMDP (Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris), decided to provide a solution for young musicians for whom purchasing an instrument was beyond their means. 

The adventure began with the cello, as Raphaël was familiar with the issues surrounding this instrument, which is the largest of the string quartet and therefore the most expensive. 

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With three co-founders – François-Xavier Anscutter, Arnaud Blanchet and Frédérique Pusey – a diverse team with shared convictions, Talents & Violon’celles was created. Its goal: to ensure that all talented musicians can play the string instrument they need.

A decade later, the team expanded with the addition of Elena Esper, Mélanie Bracale and Mina Vandôme.

 

Talents et Violon’celles focuses its ambition on three main areas: heritage, social and cultural.

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The patrons support artistic craftsmanship – namely contemporary luthiers – and cultural heritage (exceptional antique instruments). They support musicians by lending them instruments during a complex period when young artists – between the end of their studies and the start of their professional careers – need to prove themselves, for example in international competitions or when auditioning for orchestras.

Talents & Violon’celles enables the world of the arts (instrument makers and musicians) and that of institutional and private patrons to combine their skills in the service of performers and the public.

Each contributes to accomplishing a mission that it could not achieve alone. 

 

In 2025, 15 years later, 130 institutional (Caisse d'épargne, Safran, Remy Cointreau, AG2R, etc.) and private patrons joined the adventure by manufacturing instruments, donating or lending high-quality family instruments, making bequests, and supporting targeted initiatives. 

Thanks to these fruitful collaborations, Talents & Violon’celles has been able to extend its activities to other string quartet instruments: the violin and viola (under the supervision of Jean-Marc Phillips-Varjabédian, violinist with the Trio Wanderer and professor at the CSNMDP).

 

Over the years, the collection of instruments in this fund has diversified thanks to specific initiatives by certain patrons and partnerships, which have organised several events that enrich the Talents & Violon’celles approach:

• Since 2020, an annual masterclass has offered young soloists the privilege of playing with an orchestra for the first time.

• In 2021, Cello8, a cello octet, was created, which has toured numerous festivals and recorded an album.

• In 2022, Talents & Violon’celles, in partnership with the Musée de la Musique - Philharmonie de Paris, created an international lutherie competition. After two editions devoted to the cello and then the violin, the next one in 2026 will be dedicated to the viola.

• In 2024, Talents & Violon’celles further expanded its activities with the creation of a department dedicated to early music. The manufacture of six instruments is already underway.

• 2024 also saw an increase in the number of prestigious instruments, thanks to new acquisitions, opening up instrument loans to professional musicians.

 

Recognised as being of general interest, Talents & Violon’celles became an endowment fund in 2023, confirming its commitment to long-term engagement.

 

To date, in 2025, the instrument fund comprises more than 120 instruments, 40 of which were manufactured on its initiative. Talents & Violon’celles has set itself the goal of reaching 200 instruments by 2028.

And more than 120 artists benefit each year from the invaluable assistance provided by the Talents & Violon’celles endowment fund.