Cello
Antoine Foucher
Since his debut at the age of 16 with the Orchestre des jeunes de Bretagne in their rendition of Saint-Saëns’ 1st concerto, Antoine Foucher has performed throughout Europe and Asia. He has appeared as a soloist with various orchestras, including the Neue Philharmonie Westphalen, the Slovak State Philharmonic Kosice, as well as in several festivals such as the Roque d’Anthéron, Dinard, Giverny and the Cellofest in Belgrade.
With pianist Sophie Labandibar, they form a piano-cello duo which obtains the support of the Karl Dörken Stiftung. The duo also received a first prize finish at the international Beychevelle competition, won the Katrineholm International Duo Competition (Sweden), and performed among others in Hamburg, Paris at the Théâtre Mogador, Les Invalides as well as on Radio France in works by Poulenc and Beethoven.
Antoine completed his higher education cycle at the CNSMD de Lyon under Jean Deplace, then the Konzertexamen course at the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen with Young Chang Cho, where he won the Folkwang Preis. He also completed a third cycle in chamber music in sonata under the tutelage of Claire Désert at the CNSMD de Paris. Over the course of various master classes, he has received advice from Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Boris Pergamenschikow, Christian Ivaldi and members of the Wanderer trio. He completed the diploma course for a Certificate of Proficiency from the CNSMD in Paris; his thesis dealt with aesthetic issues in Mendelssohn’s music.
Antoine Foucher has been teaching since 2009 at the CRR de Toulouse and at the isdaT, where he has had the chance to collaborate for many years with Philippe Muller. He has been regularly invited by the national orchestras of Bordeaux-Aquitaine and Montpellier as solo cello and regularly joins the musicians of the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. He plays a Bernardel (father) cello from 1866.
Sarah Iancu
Sarah Iancu began her musical studies with André Fabre at the Montpellier Conservatory. Under Roland Pidoux at the CNSMD de Paris, she unanimously obtained 1st prize for cello and chamber music (Alain Meunier) and continued her training with Lluis Claret. Chosen by Monde de la Musique as “one of the best cellists of her generation”, Sarah Iancu is the winner of numerous international competitions including the Rostropovitch Competition: Prize of the French Instrumental Fund. Also worth mentioning is first place Valentino Bucchi prize in Rome, first prize of the Music Tournament in Bari, second prize at the Jeunesses Musicales Romania in Bucharest. Principal cello of the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse since 2002, she also pursues a rich musical career as chamber musician and soloist. Sarah Iancu works as part of the “preparation for a profession in orchestra” stream.
