Biography
Born in France, Anaïs started playing the violin at the age of four. After studying Violin and Chamber Music at the Conservatoire of Limoges and Musicology at the University of Bordeaux, she obtained her Master of Arts in Violin Performance at the Royal Academy of Music in London, studying under Mateja Marinkovic.
During her studies, Anaïs participated in masterclasses with renowned artists and worked under the baton of many great conductors and musicians including Sir Colin Davis, Yan Pascal Tortelier and Leif Segerstam.
While at the Royal Academy of Music, she had the privilege of performing with the composer and conductor George Benjamin alongside the London Sinfonietta at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Anaïs also recorded a CD with the Academy Manson Ensemble, playing music by Frank Zappa, and enjoys collaborating with contemporary composers – including performing at the French premiere of Victor Kissine’s Traverso.
Anaïs is a passionate musician, playing regularly with various orchestras including the Orchestra of Limoges and Limousin conducted by Robert Tuohy, London-based orchestras such as the Arch Sinfonia and Orpheus Sinfonia, and with the the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Galicia conducted by Paul Daniel.
Deeply interested in new musical practices and cross art projects, Anaïs is also involved as a soloist in contemporary artist shows. The Connecting Flights project led by the artist Marios Eleftheriadis and choreographer Daniel Lommel allowed her to play at Sani Festival in Greece and the Opera of Cairo in Egypt. Recent productions also include a staged solo violin performance on texts of a francophone writer, with theatre director Catherine Boskowitz.
Anaïs also tours with Elli Tsampa as a violin and piano duo in France, Greece and the UK.
QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS
Tell us something about yourself that might surprise us.
When I was 4 years old, I corresponded with a poet, Mathieu Bénézet. A book was published: Le livre d’ Anaïs et Mathieu. I love books, art and cinema and I make very good meringues.
What’s on your playlist right now?
Always looking for inspirations on short pieces to put together a recital program, I am listening to Hilary Hahn’s intriguing latest album about encores she commissioned. Also on my playlist are Rodrigo y Gabriela, Toumani and Sidiki Diabaté when I want to travel, together with my basics: Leonard Cohen, Cat Power, Laurie Anderson, Gavin Bryars, Sibelius symphonies, Tchaikovsky concertos, Philip Glass quartets , Boards of Canada and my friend Mesparrow
What do you love about classical music?
Classical music is timeless. I love that it feeds the imagination and arouses creativity. I am thinking of movies like Death in Venice by Visconti or Melancholia by Lars Von Trier where the use of classical music generates a powerful emotional universe.