Lucile Boulanger viola da gamba

Lucile Boulanger began learning the viola da gamba at the age of five with Christine Plubeau, before going on to study with Ariane Maurette, Jérôme Hantaï, and finally Christophe Coin at the Paris Conservatoire. She has won numerous prizes at prestigious international competitions, including the Bach-Abel Competition in Köthen and the Musica Antiqua Competition in Bruges.
 
Greatly in demand as a chamber music artist, she has played and recorded with Philippe Pierlot and the Ricercar Consort, François Lazarevitch, Justin Taylor, and Pierre Hantaï; she also regularly performs with larger ensembles such as Ensemble Pygmalion, directed by Raphaël Pichon.
 
She appears frequently as a recitalist, both in France and internationally. Her recordings for Alpha Classics and Harmonia Mundi labels have received numerous awards and widespread public acclaim.
Refusing to regard the viol as the vessel of a bygone aesthetic tradition, she uses her programmes to expand and re-energise the repertoire of her instrument, not only through the practice of transcription but also through contemporary works. Several compositions have already been dedicated to her.
 
Lucile Boulanger is also involved in a number of unusual collaborations, including projects with accordionist Théo Ould, clarinettist Christian Elin, and electronic music artist Calling Marian. She takes part in several stage productions, such as Phénix by choreographer Mourad Merzouki (on tour since 2022) and Bartabas’s upcoming equestrian show (late 2026).
 
She was awarded the Victoire de la musique classique 2025 in the Instrumental Soloist category. Lucile Boulanger currently teaches the viola da gamba at the Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles and was recently appointed professor at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris.