Word by David Grimal, Founder and Artistic Director​

In 1945, Romain Gary published A European Education, the first of a long series of novels expressing his passionate love for a crumbling Europe. It is the Europe of the Enlightenment, and the universal values of Liberty, Equality, and faith in Intelligence; this imperfect fraternity, the Europe of soldiers in the trenches, of artists, of thinkers, of the very best achievements by men and women seeking to construct the utopia of a peaceful, free and united continent.

I created Lumières d’Europe in 2021, a chamber music academy and festival, with the express purpose of cultivating the finest young talent across Europe.

The Academy’s mission is to create an environment where distinguished artists collaborate with young talents in a ten-day program of intense chamber music study. This immersive experience is designed to foster artistic growth in an atmosphere of collaboration and open dialogue, providing a fertile ground for creativity and excellence.

A unique aspect of Lumières d’Europe is its interdisciplinary approach. Music, in my view, is deeply connected to other fields of knowledge culture. Each session interweaves the study of music with reflections on literature, history, philosophy, and science. This broad intellectual horizon is cultivated through lectures given by distinguished scientists, whose insights are shared with the musicians, providing a deeper understanding of the humanistic and cultural contexts that surround the music they perform.

This approach seeks to address the issue of intellectual compartmentalization observed in modern society, as emphasized by Edgar Morin. For instance, during our 2022 session, philosopher Denis Thouard explained in his lecture the concept of Romanticism in philosophy, which differs profoundly from its meaning in music.

Supporting contemporary composers is central to my philosophy. For each session, we invite a composer-in-residence whose works are integrated into the program, offering participants the opportunity to engage directly with the composer’s original intent, which may differ from their own initial understanding of the piece. A new work from the composer-in-residence will be comissionned and premiered during the Academy.

Lumières d’Europe culminates in a series of four to five free public concerts, where the work accomplished during the Academy is shared with the audience. These concerts serve as a showcase of the progress and artistic work developed during the Academy.

We also aim to build meaningful connections with the local communities that host our sessions. Local music university students are invited to observe rehearsals and participate in discussions with Lumières d’Europe artists, inspiring the next generation of musicians to pursue excellence in their own musical education and to see the possibilities that lie ahead when they fully embrace their artistic potential.

Lumières d’Europe is an entirely free academy that offers young talents on the verge of professional careers the opportunity to work closely with master artists for free. Tuition fees are fully covered, thanks in part to the generous support of sponsors.

Lumières d’Europe aspires to provide Europe’s elite young talents with the strength and resources to shape their own musical identity and reimagine their future. Our ambition is to create a platform and community of minds united by a shared humanistic vision. We have already organized collaborations with institutions in France, Romania and Israel, including partnerships with the Royaumont Foundation, the La Grange Fleuret Library, the Petit Palais, the French Institute, the George Enescu Festival, and the Weizmann Institute of Sciences in Rehovot.