Thomas Leleu Sextet
Biographie Thomas Leleu Sextet
Thomas Leleu
Winner of the Victoires de la Musique Classique 2012 (French Grammy Awards) in the category "Revelation Instrumental Soloist of the Year, Thomas Leleu became the first tuba player to achieve this distinction in the history of the award.
At only 26 years old, Thomas Leleu is considered "absolute genius of the tuba" demonstrating an extraordinary musical sense and agility. In his hands, the traditional cliché of the tuba are overcome, and the instrument reveals all its richness, all its potential for finesse and complexity, a palette that seems endless and that springs from freshness and youth. He breaks down the barriers between classical and popular music with a stylistic eclecticism and an uninhibited approach to the concert, making him an ideal ambassador for his instrument".
Thomas was born in 1987 in Lille (northern France), and first learnt to play tuba with his father and then worked with François Thuillier and Philippe Legris. At the age of 17, with a top scholarship, he joined the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, in the tuba class of Gérard Buquet and Bernard Neuranter and the Chamber Music class of Jens McManama. Three years later he left the conservatory, with first class honours, having also won the Tuba Award.
In 2006 Thomas left to live in Germany, on an international exchange with Hans Nickel, Tuba soloist of the WDR of Cologne Orchestra, at the Detmold Academy of Music (Hochschule für Musik).
Already laureate from prestigious international competitions in Markneukirchen (Germany), Jeju (South Korea) and Luxembourg, Thomas was nominated tuba soloist for the Marseille Philharmonic Opera, at the age of 19, on the basis of formal selection. On 20 February 2012, at age 24, Thomas makes triumphant tuba winning Victoires de la Musique Classique in the "Revelation Instrumental Soloist of the Year" at the Palais des Congrès in Paris.
Thomas has played under the direction of conductors such as Kurt Mazur, M.W.Chung, Krysztov Penderecki, Tughan Sokiev, Sir Colin Davis and James Conlon. His tours have taken him to many countries, including Japan (the Tokyo Opera City), Austria (the Musikverein of Vienna), South Korea (Seoul Art Center), China (Shanghaï Opera), Venezuela, England, Belgium, the USA, Brazil, Italy, Argentinia, Russia, Egypt, Portugal, Spain, Germany and Hungary. Interested in developing the repertory for brass instruments, Thomas has worked with and composed for a number of composers, including Richard Galliano (" The Fables of Tuba "), Jean-Philippe Vanbeselaere (" L'Invité de Marc "), as well as Marc Steckar (" Insoliste "), Arnaud Boukhitine (" Menuet Fantasque "), Jorge Tagliapietra (" Glasseado "), Roberto Pintos (" Concerto for two tubas "), Dominique Probst and Franck Steckar.
On the other hand, Thomas performs regularly alongside Jean-François Zygel. In 2012, he founded his
unique and unusual Thomas Leleu Sextet.
Passionate about contemporary music, Thomas has also created, with the Marseille Philharmonic Orchestra, " Convergences " by Jean-Philippe Valbeselaere, a work for solo tuba, modern trio (guitar, base, drums) and symphony orchestra.
Moreover, Thomas regularly gives master classes in France and abroad: Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique de Paris (NMSC) New England Conservatory in Boston, Montclair State University in New York, Eastman School of Music in Rochester, University of Iowa Iowa City, Arkansas University (USA), Paris Conservatory, Conservatorio Superior de Las Palmas - Spanish Conservatory of Barquisimeto - Venezuela, many French conservatories but also in Belgium, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, etc.
In 2014/2015/2016, it will happen under various festivals and as a soloist with the Orchestre de l'Opéra de Toulon, the Orchestre Symphonique de Lara (Venezuela), the Orchestre symphonique de Quito (Ecuador), will tour solo concerts and give master classes in the USA, Asia, Venezuela (part of El Sistema), Ecuador, Italy, Austria, Spain and France. He will also perform with his sextet in the season of the GrandThéâtre de Provence, Concerts de Poche, etc ... He will perform works by Lalo Schifrin, Vladimir Cosma, Ibrahim Maalouf, Karol Beffa, Florent Gauthier and William Vautier. His first CD recorded with the Orchestre Symphonique de Lara (Venezuela) and Thomas Leleu Sextet released in 2014/2015 with the label. Fondamenta distributed by Sony Music and Naxos. The 2014 will see the launch of his new band jazz / contemporary music: Thomas Leleu / Popular Ensemble and a unique training with his brother Romain Leleu: The Brothers Leleu.
