Alexandre Bughin

Biography

"Beyond my role as a performer, creation has taken an essential part in my daily life. More than simply reproducing, I want to (re)invent by drawing from the work of others and questioning myself, whether with or without the instrument."

I was born in 1995 into a family more passionate about music than professionally involved in it, with only my maternal grandfather as an example of a life dedicated to music; a band director, clarinetist, organist, pianist, operetta accompanist, and composer. Perhaps inspired by this multifaceted man and later by my violinist older sister, I made the decision at 18 to make music my profession.

After training with passionate individuals—Pascale Mattot at the Grez-Doiceau Academy, Guillermo Cerviño Wood during the "Rigaudon" summer courses, and in the Néthen String Ensembles with the Meulemans brothers, Alain and Benoît—I entered IMEP in 2013 in Éric Chardon's class, earning a Bachelor’s degree three years later. My encounter with Justus Grimm then proved to be a turning point in my artistic journey. I pursued a first Master’s degree in his class, and later, after two years, including one in Germany in Münster with Matías de Oliveira Pinto, I once again knocked on Justus’s door as successive lockdowns deprived us of the joy of performing in front of an audience. What better decision than to continue learning while waiting for the cultural world to brighten? I couldn’t have imagined it better. With another diploma in hand, I was finally launched into a professional career.

In parallel with my studies, various orchestral and ensemble experiences enriched my journey. In Belgium: the Royal Opera of Wallonia, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Opera Vlaanderen, Young Belgian Strings, Antwerpen Camerata, to name just a few. But the most beautiful and also the most intense of all: three tours with the European Union Youth Orchestra, the "EUYO." In London, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Berlin, Bucharest, Vienna, Ferrara, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, under the baton of internationally renowned conductors such as Vasily Petrenko, Gianandrea Noseda, and Manfred Honeck: journeys surrounded by exceptional young musicians eager to unite for and through music.

These unforgettable memories will undoubtedly stay with me forever, but it is chamber music that has become my favorite field; the one where I feel most able to express myself and where the relationships forged with stage partners are of an even deeper nature. While continuing some long-term projects close to my heart, I also derive great pleasure from collaborating with artists in a more ephemeral or occasional manner, always with the same level of commitment. Avoiding routine and varying challenges as much as possible: that’s the goal!

And then, beyond my role as a performer, creation has taken an essential part in my daily life. More than simply reproducing, I want to (re)invent by drawing from the work of others and questioning myself, whether with or without the instrument. I discovered a desire to compose, thanks in particular to "Glaise," a project I cherish greatly.

In seeking balance and serenity, other passions have been added to my artistic life. After training in ornithology and bird ethology, I am now embarking on a course to become a nature guide. It's true that in nature, music is never far away...