Bringuier Assumes Post in September for 2007/2008 Season

Conductor Lionel Bringuier has been named assistant conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, beginning with the 2007/2008 season. Bringuier was selected through a competitive process that included over 150 applicants from around the world. The field was narrowed to seven final candidates who were invited to conduct the orchestra in a live audition last month. Bringuier begins his two-year appointment in September 2007.

"I am tremendously happy and honored to join the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and Esa-Pekka Salonen as Assistant Conductor next season,“ says Bringuier. “I have been impressed for a long-time by their music-making in many great recordings. From the first personal contact in Paris a few months ago with Deborah Borda and Esa-Pekka Salonen, I realized that there is a special feeling in this organization - not just a team of the first degree in terms of artistic excellence, but a really warm familial environment...not to mention a first-rate performance hall! I am delighted to share my passion for music in these exceptional conditions with the community.”

Philharmonic Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen comments, "I saw Lionel for the first time on a video a couple of years ago, and saw immediately that he was a natural. At his audition with the orchestra, he made a great impression on me, as well as the musicians. Lionel is one of the top talents of his generation, there’s no question about this, and it’s the right time in his life to do this. It will be a fascinating process to see him develop and help the process the along.”

In his first season as assistant conductor, Lionel Bringuier conducts many of the Philharmonic’s education and community concerts. He will lead other concerts as scheduled, including subscription concerts at the world-renowned Hollywood Bowl, the Philharmonic’s summer home, and a Green Umbrella new music series concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Bringuier also serves as the cover conductor for Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen or guest conductors throughout the orchestra’s subscription season and on tour. In addition, his duties include serving as a member of the planning team for the educational series Toyota Symphonies for Youth.

Currently assistant conductor of the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, a post he has held since January 2005, Bringuier was the winner of the 49th Besançon Young Conductors Competition by unanimous decision. Born in Nice, France, in 1986, Lionel Bringuier began his musical studies at the Academy of Nice at the age of five and gave his first cello recital before the Countess of Paris at the age of nine. At thirteen, he was admitted to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris (C.N.S.M.) in the cello class of Philippe Muller and furthered his academic work in chamber music, choral singing and jazz studies. In 2000, he began his conducting studies at the C.N.S.M. where he continues today under the tutelage of Zsolt Nagy. He has also participated in masterclasses with Peter Eötvös and Janos Fürst.

Recent and future engagements include concerts with the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice, Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava, Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble Modern Academy Frankfurt, and the Helsinki Philharmonic. He makes his debut leading the Staatskapelle Dresden, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg and the Cologne Gurzenich Orchestra, among others during the current concert season.

In June 2004, he obtained his diploma from the C.N.S.M. de Paris in cello, as well as conducting, with Honorable Mention. Other distinctions include the Gold Medal awarded unanimously by the jury of the Prince Rainier Academy in Monaco, the Gold Medal from the Lord Mayor of Nice, and First Prize in a competition organized by the Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra in Ostrava. Bringuier is also a prizewinner of the Swiss Foundation Langart and the Cziffra Foundation.

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