Artist in residence at the Queen Elisabeth College of Music under the tutelage of Gary Hoffman and nominated Adami ‘Classical Revelation 2023’ at the age of 21, Léo Ispir has won several international competitions: fourth prize at the prestigious Bach Competition in Leipzig, 1st prize at the Tremplin International Cello Competition, first prize and the Grand Prize at the Gustav Mahler International Cello Competition…
He began playing the cello at the age of 7 with Isabelle Loubaresse at the Rouen Conservatoire. After three years at the CRR of Paris in Hélène Dautry’s class, he continued his studies at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique de Paris in Jérôme Pernoo’s class. Léo benefits from the advice of Anne Gastinel at the Académie Jaroussky. He has received advice from such masters as Frans Helmerson, Sol Gabetta, Julian Steckel, Christophe Coin and the Quatuor Ébène.
Léo Ispir performs as soloist with various orchestras such as: Orchestre Appassionato, Bilkent Symphony Orchestra, ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, Pauliner Barokensemble… Léo has also worked with many chamber music partners, including the Modigliani Quartet, Gautier Capuçon, Augustin Dumay, Claire Désert, Franck Braley, Lucas Debargue, Raphaël Pidoux, Emmanuel Strosser, Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden and Anne Gastinel. He has performed at the Georges Enescu Festival, Les Folles Journées de Nantes, Les Flâneries musicales de Reims, Schiermonnikoog Festival, Ravel Festival, etc.
Léo Ispir is a laureate of the Gautier Capuçon Foundation, thanks to which in 2024 he will record a duo album with his violinist brother Luka Ispir on the Warner Classics/Erato label. In January 2025, the Ispir brothers will record an album accompanied by the ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien conducted by Howard Griffiths. He is a member of the Cello8 octet, with whom he recorded an album entitled ‘Ode to Night’ on the Mirare label. A keen student of early music, Léo is also studying the viola da gamba with Philippe Pierlot at the Brussels Conservatoire. He plays on a cello by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume generously loaned by Michael Guttman.
