Raphaël Jouan
is a young cellist motivated by his love of sharing music. His style is characterised by his curiosity and openness : he is interested in varying repertoires and musical formations. He regularly performs as a soloist with orchestra (Vivaldi on baroque instrument, Haydn, Schumann, Saint-Saens, Beethoven Triple Concerto…), during solo recitals, and he often shares the stage with the pianist Flore Merlin and the accordionist Bruno Maurice. In 2018 he is nominated “Révélation Classique de l’Adami”.

Passionate about chamber music, he regularly gives concerts in prestigious concert halls (Philharmonie de Paris, Xinghai Concert Hall, Arsenal of Metz, Lyon Opera House, Wigmore Hall…), on the radio (France Musique), and during various festivals in France (Les Folles Journées de Nantes, Via Aeterna, les Rencontres Musicales d’Evian, Pablo Casals Festival…) and abroad (Hohenstaufen Festival, Molaeb Festival in Lebanon, Sumito Festival in Switzerland, YMCG Festival in China, Les Folles Journées in Varsaw, Tokyo…).

Raphaël is a founding member of the Helios Trio with Camille Fonteneau (violin) and Alexis Gournel (piano). They studied at the Paris Conservatoire (with Claire Désert, Itamar Golan, François Salque) and are now ECMA Ensemble (European Chamber Music Academy). They also benefit from the teachings of musical personalities such as the Ébène, Modigliani and Talich Quartets and the Trio Wanderer. They have been “Ensemble en Résidence” during the Festival La Roque d'Anthéron (2015-2016) and the Festival des Arcs (2016-2018). They won several prizes in various International Competitions (Illzach, Bellan, FNAPEC, AEAFC) and more recently the 2nd prize at the Lyon International Chamber Music Competition, the Special prize Franz Liszt at the Joseph Joachim Competition and the 2nd prize at the Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition. They are supported by the Safran and l’Or du Rhin Fondations, and represented by the Claire Laballery Agency.

Over the years, Raphaël has become more interested about improvisation and world music. He has worked with some of the best jazz cellists and world music artists (Vincent Ségal, Mike Block, Stephan Braun and several members of the “Silk Road Ensemble”) in Germany, China and at the Global Musician Workshop in the US. He is also a founding member of the Hussam Aliwat Quartet between 2016 and 2019, formed by two cellos a oud and drums. Mix between rock, oriental jazz and improvisation, they played in jazz clubs and festivals in France and have recorded their first CD in April 2018 : “Born Now” (Gaya Music Production).

Raphaël first completed his grades at the Metz conservatoire with Jean Adolphe, before continuing at Boulogne Billancourt where he studied under Xavier Gagnepain. He entered at the age of 18 in the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris (CNSM) where he got his master degree in May 2017 in the class of Michel Strauss and Guillaume Paoletti. He also studied piano with Zhu Xiao-Mei, the baroque cello with Bruno Cocset, and has been advised during master classes and academies by Gary Hoffman, Jérôme Pernoo, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Gustav Rivinius, Jens Peter Maintz, Lynn Harell, Yo-Yo Ma…

In 2017, Raphaël has been selected for the prestigious Classe d’Excellence de Violoncelle of Gautier Capuçon at the Louis Vuitton Fondation. He is now studying in the Artist Diploma Degree at the Paris Conservatoire and in the “School of Excellence” Program of the Basel Music Academy with Danjulo Ishizaka.

Raphaël is supported by the Adami and plays a cello of Frank Ravatin generously loaned to him by the association El Pasito.

His first CD, “Sérénade” (Initiale), with the pianist Flore Merlin, will be released in June.

Flore Merlin
Curious and enthusiastic, Flore Merlin loves to explore the repertoire and share the stage. A passionate chamber musician, she is a member of Nuori Trio, Arto Duo and Zoltan Duo and collaborates regularly with recognized instrumentalists and singers such as Anne Le Bozec and Damask vocal quartet. She performs as a soloist, and is also accompanist and opera coach. Her interest in questioning musical notation and interpretation nourished her fortepiano and harpsichord practice. She holds degrees from the conservatories of Paris, Brussels and Helsinki in piano, fortepiano, vocal acompaniment and opera coaching. She had the privilege of studying with Tuija Hakkila, Anne Le Bozec, Emmanuel Olivier and Boyan Vodenitcharov, among others.