Octuor de France - The musicians

	THE MUSICIANS OF THE OCTUOR DE FRANCE
		Extract #2

	JEAN-LOUIS SAJOT, CLARINET Born in Nevers, Jean-Louis Sajot is the founder of the Octuor de France. He began his studies in his native town and then entered the Conservatoire National Supérieure de Musique de Paris where he obtained a brilliant first prize for clarinet. After a short period with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Lyon, he joined the Orchestre National de France in 1976 and has played under the direction of Lorin Maazel, Leonard Bernstein, Claudio Abbado, Ricardo Muti, Wolfgang Sawwallisch, Eugène Jochum, Seiji Ozawa, Charles Dutoit… He taught at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris from 1978 to 1996 and has played more than 500 concerts with the Octuor de France both in France and abroad.
	YURIKO NAGANUMA, FIRST VIOLIN Born in Japan, Yuriko Naganuma began her musical studies in Tokyo and the came to France where she obtained a brilliant first prize at the Conservatoire National Supérieure de Musique de Paris in Madame Michèle Auclair’s class. She won other prizes at the Paganini Competition in Genoa, at the Jacques Thibault International Competition in 1981, and first prizes at the Indianapolis and Montreal International Competitions. She works both in France and in Japan where she performs several times each year. She divides her time between her performances as a soloist and her role of first violinist with the Octuor de France. In 1997, she recorded Jean Francaix’s Violin Concerto with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, conducted by the composer himself.
	SYLVIE SENTENAC, SECOND VIOLIN Born in Ariège, Sylvie Sentenac began her musical studies in her native region and then, at a very young age, obtained a brilliant first prize at the Conservatoire National Supérieure de Musique de Paris. She won a prize at the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition in Folkestone and studied in Michèle Auclair’s class at the New England Conservatory in Boston, USA, where she obtained a graduate diploma. On her return to France, she joined the Octuor de France on the recommendation of her teacher.
	LAURENT JOUANNEAU, VIOLA Born in Suresnes, Laurent Jouanneau first studied the violin under Maryvonne le Dièzes but quickly showed a preference for the viola. He became principal viola player with the Orchestre Jean Paillard and then with the Orchestre Symphonique Français before joining the Octuor de France in 1991. He divides his time between playing with the Octuor de France and teaching the viola.
	PAUL BROUTIN, CELLO Born in Briare, Paul Broutin moved to the Paris region at an early age. He entered the Conservatoire National Supérieure de Musique de Paris in Bernard Michelin’s class where he obtained a brilliant first prize for cello. He then joined a postgraduate chamber music class. When not teaching, he devotes his career to the Octuor de France.
	PHILIPPE BLARD, DOUBLE BASS Born in Reunion, Philippe Blard studuied music in Reims and Saint-Maur before entering the Conservatoire National Supérieure de Musique de Paris class where he obtained a brilliant first prize. Double bass player with the Orchestre de la Garde Républicaine, his chamber music career is with the Octuor de France.
	ANTOINE DEGREMONT, FRENCH HORN Born in Canteleau in the north of France, Antoine Degremont studied music in Rouen. On his arrival in Paris, he was quickly engaged by the Orchestre National de France, the Orchestre de Paris and the Orchestre de l’Opéra de Paris. He became principal french horn player with the Orchestre Symphonique Français before joinig the Octuor de France.
	JACQUES THAREAU, BASSOON Born in Paris, Jacques Thareau started his musical studies on the clarinet. His passion for instrumental research led him to the study of the german bassoon. Since then, he has worked regularly with the most famous Parisian orchestras. Jacques Thareau’s chamber music career is with the Octuor de France.
	DAVID BRASLAWSKY, PIANO Born in Paris, David Braslawsky studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieure de Musique de Paris where he obtained a brilliant first prize. He studied chamber music in Jean Hubeau’s class and then with Christian Ivaldi. In 1992 he was appointed piano teacher at the Conservatoire National de Région de Saint-Maur near Paris. He has been pianist with the Octuor de France since 1992.

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