Jean-Frédéric Molard

Born in Pau in 1975, Jean Frédéric Molard began studying the violin at a very young age under the guidance of his father Jean Noël Molard at the Conservatoire de Tours, and later at the Conservatoire supérieur de Paris CNR. In 1994, he entered the Conservatoire Royal de Musique de Bruxelles where he obtained a first prize in violin in his very first year, in the class of Endre Kleve. Under his direction, he continued his studies until 1999, when he was awarded the higher diploma in violin with distinction, as well as the higher diploma in chamber music with highest distinction, in the class of Serge Bémant. Jean Frédéric Molard furthered his training through masterclasses led by the Alban Berg Quartet, the Parisii Quartet, and the Hungarian violinist Gyorgy Pauk. Since 1998, Jean Frédéric Molard has been a member of the Orchestre de Chambre de Wallonie. In 2003, he returned to the Conservatoire Royal de Musique de Bruxelles as assistant in the violin class and string sight reading class, and later as lecturer in charge of the string sight reading class. Jean Frédéric Molard also pursues an active chamber music career, notably with pianists Valérie Molard and Jean Noël Remiche, with whom he founded the Duo Gemini in 2001. He is deeply committed to the discovery and promotion of contemporary Belgian repertoire, notably through events such as the Festival Emergence and the Week end de musique belge contemporaine de Jette. He is a laureate of the Mathilde Horlait d Apsens Foundation as well as the International Chamber Music Competition of Rome TIM. Since October 2003, he has been a member of the group Soledad, performing at numerous festivals in Belgium and abroad, and recording several albums for the Virgin Classics label including Soledad, Del Diablo, and Passage. In 2013, he recorded an album for the Pavane label with Duo Gemini, dedicated to works by John Adams, Arvo Pärt, and Michel Lysight. In 2014, he released his first solo album on the Fuga Libera label, featuring Bartok’s Sonata and Bach’s Second Partita. He has also appeared as a soloist with the National Orchestra of Colombia. In 2016, to mark the twentieth anniversary of the group Soledad, the album Logical was released by Warner Music and received widespread critical acclaim. In 2018, Jean Frédéric Molard will serve as concertmaster of the newly founded chamber orchestra of the Grumiaux Foundation. Jean Frédéric Molard plays a violin made by Jean Baptiste Vuillaume in 1840.