The masterclass with orchestra by Talents & Violon'celles
Every year since 2019, Talents & Violon’celles has organised a masterclass with orchestra. The event has been held successively at the Salle Colonne in Paris, under the baton of conductors such as Vahan Mardirossian, Jean-Jacques Kantorow and Christophe Coin, then in 2024 at the Maison de la Mutualité (Paris 5th arrondissement), with the Consuelo orchestra conducted by Victor Julien-Laferrière, and finally in 2025 at the Salle Cortot, under the baton of maestro Giuliano Carmignola.
The encounter with an orchestra is always a pivotal artistic event for young instrumentalists. This experience is essential for honing their skills, testing their ability to concentrate, gaining confidence, and preparing them for competitions under optimal conditions. It is further enriched by the immediate challenge of performing in a public concert, which multiplies its effectiveness tenfold. Yet, the higher education system for young French instrumentalists does not include opportunities for them to work with an orchestra in a real solo performance setting, which constitutes a clear gap in their musical training and a significant disadvantage when they participate in international competitions.
This initiative, conceived and imagined by Talents & Violon'celles, is made possible by the generosity of Anne and Foucauld de Tinguy, who have sponsored it every year since its inception.
Guiding young talents towards professionalization
The encounter with the orchestra and working under the direction of a conductor allows these young performers, in full musical and technical growth, to make giant strides.
They become aware of what they still lack technically and/or psychologically. They thus learn to better understand their responsibility as soloists and the realities of a musician's work. This masterclass offers them experience, and even more importantly, a wealth of knowledge that they can draw upon in competitions or later on stage.
The 6th edition of the masterclass with orchestra took place on December 2, 2025 at Salle Cortot
An exceptional moment marked by sharing and generosity
We thought we knew Vivaldi's Four Seasons, but the great Giuliano Carmignola, ‘a prince among Baroque violinists’, offered us a true revelation. With his unique expertise, he transformed the listening experience into a living story, told with passion and authenticity.
For our four soloists and the young instrumentalists of the Ensemble Premières Scènes, beneficiaries of our instrument fund, this masterclass was a rare and formative experience. In a friendly atmosphere, Maestro Carmignola showed exceptional generosity, encouraging discussion and filling a key gap in their training: practising with an orchestra as a soloist.
Made possible, as every year, by the generosity of our patrons Anne and Foucauld de Tinguy, this sixth edition was also organised in partnership with Salle Cortot, which provided the venue and reception areas.
The latest editions
2024 edition
© Jean-Baptiste Millot
Five young soloists benefited from the guidance of Victor Julien-Laferrière, conductor of the Consuelo Orchestra, Claire Désert for piano, Raphaël Pidoux for cello and Jean-Marc Phillips-Varjabédian for violin, focusing on Beethoven's Triple Concerto in C major, Op. 56, for piano, violin and cello, and Brahms' Double Concerto in A minor, Op. 102, for violin and cello.
© Jean-Baptiste Millot
16th December 2024
Masterclass at the Maison de la Mutualité with Victor Julien-Laferrière
2023 edition
© G. Arbellot
Two violinists and four cellists worked with the Orchestre Colonne under the direction of Christophe Coin, performing two concertos by Haydn (in D major and C major) for the cellists and two concertos by Mozart (in D major and A major) for the violinists, while benefiting from the advice of Raphaël Pidoux and Jean-Marc Phillips Varjabédian.
© G. Arbellot
4th December 2023
Masterclass at the Salle Colonne with Christophe Coin
2022 edition
© K. Miura
Three violinists and three cellists worked with the Colonne Orchestra, conducted by violinist and conductor Jean-Jacques Kantorow, on Elgar's cello concerto and three pieces for solo violin with orchestra: Poème by Ernest Chausson, Havanaise and Rondo capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saëns, with guidance from Raphaël Pidoux and Jean-Marc Phillips-Varjabédian.
© K. Miura
14th November 2022
Masterclass at the Salle Colonne with Jean-Jacques Kantorow
2021 edition
Three cellists and two violinists worked with the Colonne Symphony Orchestra (43 musicians) conducted by Vahan Mardirossian on Tchaikovsky's violin concertos in D major and Dvorak's cello concerto, with guidance from Raphaël Pidoux and Jean-Marc Phillips-Varjabédian.
13th September 2021
Masterclass at the Salle Colonne with Vahan Mardirossian