Francis Mourey

Francis Mourey obtained in 2003 a D.E.M. with highest honors unanimously in the cello class of Laurent Lagarde at the C.N.R. of Dijon. He continued his studies with Marie Hallynck at the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles, where he earned a bachelor’s degree with great distinction in 2008. During his training, Francis Mourey received guidance from renowned masters such as Mark Drobinsky, Edmond Baert, France Springuel, Marc-Didier Thirault, and Lluis Claret. Curious to explore music in all its dimensions, he also studied orchestral conducting with Jean-Sébastien Béreau, organ with Jean-Pierre Leguay, and composition with Guy Leclercq. He was awarded the Raynaud-Zurfluh Prize unanimously in 2003 and won first prize at the Servais International Competition in 2009.

As an orchestral musician, Francis Mourey regularly performs with the Orchestre National de Belgique and the Brussels Philharmonic. Since 2015, he has held the position of principal cellist of the Orchestre National de Belgique. He has also performed as a soloist under the direction of conductors such as Martin Yates, Jean-Sébastien Béreau, and Bernard Delire, at venues including the Concertgebouw of Bruges, the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles, and the Singel in Antwerp.

Particularly passionate about chamber music, Francis Mourey has undertaken projects in collaboration with other artistic disciplines such as theater, dance, and poetry. He forms a duo with pianist Aude Vallée, aiming to introduce audiences to all aspects of the repertoire, from major sonatas to many forgotten masterpieces. He is also a member of the Trio Khaldei, which has performed on major stages such as Bozar in Brussels, the Concertgebouw of Bruges, DeSingel and AMUZ in Antwerp, and at the Festival de Flandre. The trio seeks to create a dialogue between music of the past and contemporary music, actively contributing to the enrichment of Belgian cultural heritage by commissioning works from national composers. The first CD of the Trio Khaldei, dedicated to Shostakovich and Prokofiev, was released in 2017 under the Paraty label.

Teaching has been an important part of Francis Mourey’s life for several years. He views this mission as more than simply passing on his expertise and experience to the musicians of tomorrow; it is a privileged moment of sharing and exchange.Francis Mourey is assistant in the chamber music and cello classes at the Conservatoire Royal de Musique de Bruxelles. He also teaches cello at the academies of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre. He plays on a cello made by luthier Tanguy Fraval in 2014.