EMMANUEL FRANCOIS

Versatile and inquisitive musician Emmanuel François leads an intense performing career, appearing in recital, chamber music, as a soloist, and as a member of renowned ensembles. He has performed in some fifteen European countries, as well as in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Israel, Ecuador, and Colombia.

For nearly ten years, he was the violist of the Van Kuijk Quartet, with which he performed in some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including the Berlin Philharmonie, Wigmore Hall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Tonhalle Zürich, Vienna Konzerthaus, Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, and the Philharmonie de Paris. The quartet’s recordings, acclaimed by international critics, are released exclusively under the Alpha Classics label.

A former soloist of the Opéra de Marseille Orchestra, he has been invited to perform as guest principal viola with the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Orchestre National de Montpellier, Orchestre de l’Opéra National de Lyon, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, Orchestre National d’Auvergne, Orchestre National de Lyon, Sydney Opera Orchestra, Luxembourg Chamber Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, and the Ensemble Intercontemporain, among others.

Emmanuel François studied violin with Marie-Annick Nicolas at the HEM in Geneva and viola at the CNSMD of Lyon, completing his Master’s with Jean-Philippe Vasseur and Artist Diploma (3rd Cycle) with Françoise Gnéri. He also refined his artistry through work with Antoine Tamestit, Yuri Bashmet, Tatjana Masurencko, Atar Arad, and Thomas Riebl.

He is a laureate of the international Wolfgang Märschner Competition (Germany) and the Beethoven Hradec Competition (Czech Republic).
Holder of the Certificat d’Aptitude, Emmanuel François teaches viola at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional (CRR) of Bordeaux and at the Pôle d’Enseignement Supérieur Musique et Danse (PESMD) Bordeaux Nouvelle-Aquitaine. After teaching at the CNSMD of Paris, he has been Professor of Viola at the CNSMD of Lyon since January 2025.