First Prize winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2017 (the first year dedicated to cello), Victor Julien-Laferrière continues to be recognized as “one of the most reliable talents of the young generation of French cellists” (Diapason). His accolades include the first prize and two special prizes at the 2012 Prague Spring International Competition, and the 2018 Victoire de la Musique in France as Instrumental Soloist of the Year.

The 2025/26 season sees concerts with first-class orchestras such as Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin conducted by Giedrë Ðlekytë and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under Vasily Petrenko, as well as Trondheim Symphony Orchestra with Kirill Karabits, Flanders Symphony Orchestra under Martijn Dendievel, Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música, Ulster Orchestra and Bilkent Symphony Orchestra. He continues to consolidate his role in French musical life, appearing with the Orchestre National de Lille under Joshua Weilerstein and Orchestre National de Bordeaux Aquitaine with Lionel Bringuier. The other highlights include major festivals: Radio France’s Présences Festival, Musikfest Parisienne at the Philharmonie de Paris and return to Sol Gabetta’s Solsberg festival.

Further afield, Victor Julien-Laferrière has performed with renowned orchestras worldwide, including Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, hr-Sinfonieorchester, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestre National de France, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra,  Brussels Philharmonic, Belgium National Orchestra, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Chambre Paris, Orchestre National de Lyon, Les Siècles, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, and with prestigious conductors such as Valery Gergiev, Kristiina Poska, Emmanuel Krivine, Karina Canellakis, Tugan Sokhiev, Mikko Franck, Elim Chan, Maxim Emelyanychev, François-Xavier Roth, Jun Märkl, Philippe Herreweghe, Nathalie Stutzmann, Stéphane Denève, Joshua Weilerstein, Eivind Gullberg Jensen, Gergely Madaras and Ben Glassberg.

His recital and chamber music engagements have led him to perform in prestigious venues and festivals such as Konzerthaus Wien, Lucerne KKL, Brussels Bozar, Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, Tonhalle Zurich, Philharmonie de Paris, Louis Vuitton Foundation, Essen Philharmonie, Phillips Collection in Washington, Prague Spring International Music Festival, Klavier-Festival Ruhr, Rheingau Musik Festival, Sommer Bad Kissingen, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Roque d’Anthéron Festival, Festival Ravel in St Jean de Luz, Musikfest Parisienne at Philharmonie de Paris, Schubertiade, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival, Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad, Brussels Cello Festival, Copenhagen Summer Festival, Folles Journées in Nantes and Tokyo, and Edesche Concertzaal.

Victor Julien-Laferrière is also developing substantial activity as a conductor. He has guest-conducted Orchestre National d’Île-de-France and Orchestre de l’Opéra de Rouen on tour as well as Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, and his ensemble Orchestre Consuelo.

His discography includes acclaimed recordings for Alpha Classics and Sony Music, including works by Shostakovich, Rachmaninov, Denisov, Dvoøák, Martinù, Dutilleux, and Dusapin. His recent recording of Dutilleux and Dusapin concertos with Orchestre National de France conducted by Kristiina Poska and David Robertson received the Diapason d’Or.

Victor Julien-Laferrière studied with René Benedetti, then successively with Roland Pidoux at the Paris Conservatoire, Heinrich Schiff at Vienna University, and Clemens Hagen at Salzburg Mozarteum in Salzburg. He also participated in the Seiji Ozawa International Music Academy Switzerland from 2005 to 2011. He plays on a cello by Domenico Montagnana and with a bow by Dominique Peccatt.

Teachers

2014-2016 Clemens Hagen
2009-2014 Heinrich Schiff

Degrees

2014-2016 Diplôme d'Artiste Interprète - Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris
2014-2016 Perfectionnement - Mozarteum Universität für Musik

Concerts

2016 Villeparisis - Orchestre National d'Île de France, Michael Hofstatter (dir.)
2016 Dijon, Opéra - Orchestre Dijon-Bourgogne, Gergely Madaras (dir.)
2016 Concerts du dimanche matin, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées (Paris) - Adam Laloum (piano)
2013 Spring Prague Festival, Rudolfinum - Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Peter Oudjian (dir.)

Competitions

2012 Spring Prague International Competition - 1er prix