Gautier Capuçon Launches Philanthropic Foundation

The new organization will provide financial support for exceptional young artists to help them establish their careers

French cellist Gautier Capuçon has announced the launch of his new charitable organization, the Fondation Gautier Capuçon. It will aim to provide young artists, both from France and around the globe, with financial support and mentorship while they are in the establishing stage of their careers.

The establishment of the foundation will complement Capuçon's work with the Classe d'Excellence de Violoncelle at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, an initiative which provides masterclasses and concert opportunities for a range of promising young cellists.

Capuçon will head the artistic advisory team at the new organization, alongside two other colleagues: Alain Altinoglu, who is currently Music Director of both the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels and the hr-Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt, as well as the pianist and conductor Frank Braley, a long-time duo partner of Capuçon's and the winner of the 1991 Queen Elisabeth Competition.

The Foundation's first Laureate is the young French pianist Kim Bernard, who graduated from Lyon's National Conservatory of Music and Dance at the age of 19. Bernard has already worked with Capuçon on the project "Un été en France," a traveling festival with an accompanying documentary series that gave a platform to young artists struggling in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions. 

"This philanthropic project is close to my heart and extends my long-standing commitment to music education, as well as to charitable organizations," Capuçon said. "I know how difficult it is to access a career as a classical musician and the pandemic we are going through has only made matters worse. This is why I wanted to go even further...to help support talented young musicians in making their dreams come true."