Léo Ispir

Léo Ispir, born in 2002, is a French cellist and artist-in-residence at La Chapelle Musicale Reine Elisabeth under the guidance of Gary Hoffman. He began playing the cello at the age of 7 with Isabelle Loubaresse at the CRR de Rouen and later studied with Hélène Dautry at the CRR de Paris when he was 14. From 2020 to 2023, Léo studied alongside Jérôme Pernoo at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. In addition, he received guidance from Anne Gastinel at the Jaroussky Academy, where he was a laureate of the Promotion Debussy. In 2023, Léo was recognized as the Classical Revelation by ADAMI.

He has had the opportunity to work with renowned professors such as Frans Helmerson, Julian Steckel, Peter Wispelwey, Stephan Forck, and the Ébène Quartet at various academies and masterclasses throughout Europe.

Léo participated in the Cello Masterclass at the Kronberg Academy and has performed in chamber music settings with artists including the Modigliani Quartet, Jean François Heisser, François Salque, Svetlin Roussev, and Raphaël Pidoux in France, Turquie, USA, Ukraine,Georgia… As a soloist, he has collaborated with conductors such as Pierre Bleuse, Mathieu Herzog, and Julien Guénebaut. He has been fortunate to perform in prestigious concert halls such as the Kiev Philharmonic, Salle Gaveau, Philharmonie de Paris, and Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. Léo has been featured in festivals such as Les Folle Journées de Nantes, Les Flâneries Musicales de Reims, Festival 1001 Notes, and Les Musicales de Blanchardeau, among others.

He is a member of the Cello8 Octet, with whom he recorded the album Ode à la Nuit under the Mirare label.

He has also won several prizes in various competitions, including the first prize at the Tremplin International Cello Competition, the first prize and “Grand Prize” at the Gustav Mahler International Cello Competition.

He plays a cello by Francis Kuttner, loaned by Mrs. Karapetyan, with the valuable assistance of the association “Talents et Violon’celles.”