”The school is very much grounded in the reality of what it means to be a professional musician today.”
When asked to describe his experience at the École Normale de Musique de Paris, Lucas Debargue, winner of the 2016 Cortot Prize, highlighted three key aspects: “First, I felt very free there […]. Also, the school is very grounded in the reality of being a professional musician today. Regarding competitions, there’s a real understanding of what’s at stake, which is very motivating.”
Lucas Debargue joined the École Normale de Musique in 2012 to study with his teacher, Rena Shereshevskaya. He had already begun his training with her at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Rueil-Malmaison. He explains: “The teacher-student relationship is very intense. Rena was the backbone of my journey from Rueil to the École Normale de Musique in Paris. Even when things weren’t going well or I had doubts about my career, she was there to get me back on track. And when I needed it, the school always knew how to adapt.”
It’s an intimate place, with a lot of closeness. The encounters are always enriching, whether with the professors or between students: “I remember the auditions between students in Rena’s class, where the level was particularly high. It was great. I also remember David Lively sometimes coming to the class… there was a very direct relationship and real transparency everywhere. It was motivating, and we were well guided.”
His attachment to the School and its teachings is reflected in the two years that followed the final of the Tchaikovsky competition. “I continued at the École Normale until the Cortot prize, even though I didn’t necessarily need it. But I wanted to go all the way.”
Students have a very special relationship within the School. This is reflected in several ways. One example in Lucas’s career is the recording of his audition video for the Tchaikovsky and Chopin competitions, which was sponsored by the School.
Finally, he mentions that he was a scholarship recipient. “I was really taken care of,” he concludes.
Words gathered by Kenzi Laraqui