Jean Sulem

Jean Sulem studied with Serge Collot at the Paris Conservatoire. In 1981, Pierre Boulez chose him to become soloist with the Ensemble Intercontemporain. He played with the ensemble for ten years. Highly active in contemporary creation, he has performed masterpieces of the viola’s contemporary solo repertoire at major international festivals, and given rise to numerous premieres. He has made several recordings as soloist with the Ensemble Intercontemporain, notably Luciano Berio’s Chemins II, conducted by Pierre Boulez.

In addition to his solo activities, Jean Sulem has an important career as a chamber musician. Since its foundation in 1981, he has been the violist with the Quatuor Rosamonde. He has performed as soloist and chamber musician at major international festivals worldwide, and has recorded over thirty CDs.

A renowned pedagogue, he has been professor of viola and chamber music at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris since 1990. He has also been professor at the Tibor Varga Academy in Sion, Switzerland, since 1990, and at the International Summer Academy in Cervo, Italy, since 1996. He regularly gives interpretation courses in Europe, North America and Asia. He is also a regular guest jury member at international competitions. Many of his former students are soloists with major European orchestras or members of renowned string quartets.