The final audition of the Pablo Casals International Award 2024 took place last Saturday November 16th in the Tívoli auditorium of the Escola Municipal de Música Pau Casals del Vendrell (EMMPAC). The jury was made up of internationally renowned cellists Ophélie Gaillard, Danjulo Ishizaka, Marie-Elisabeth Hecker and Arnau Tomàs. Bernard Meillat, musical advisor of the Foundation, acted as secretary of the jury.
Gabriel Guignier (France, 2006) began learning cello at the age of four under the tutelage of Veronique Álvarez in Aulnay-Sous-Bois.
From 2017 to 2020, he participated in Proquartett, a Chamber Music course with the “Voce Quartet”. In 2021, he joined the class of Jérôme Pernoo at the National Conservatory of Music in Paris. Currently, he studies with Edgar Moreau at the National Conservatory of Music in Paris, where he enthusiastically follows the entire curriculum while also taking optional courses in theatre and piano. He is also deeply involved in chamber music, studying with Luc-Marie Aguera and Emmanuel Strosser.
In 2022, he was selected to participate in the Kronberg Academy Masterclasses in Germany.
Among his most notable awards are the First Prize at the Klaipeda David Geringas International Cello Competition 2023 (Category C), Third Prize at the Tremplin International Cello Competition in Aulnay-sous-Bois, France (2021), Second Prize at the Prodiges Arts Competition 2021 (Advanced Level), and First Prize at the Vatelot-Rampal Prodiges Arts Competition 2018 in Paris, France.