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Born into a family of musicians, Joakim Ciesla began the saxophone in the suburbs of Lyon before entering the Lyon Conservatory. Winner of the 1st Prize at the Nantes International Saxophone Competition in 2012, he was admitted in 2014 to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP) in Claude Delangle’s class.
He successfully earned both his Master’s degree in Saxophone and his Master’s degree in Chamber Music, unanimously awarded, as well as the State Diploma.
He is currently completing the Certificat d’Aptitude to further refine his pedagogical expertise.
An International and Innovative Career
A musician anchored in his time, Joakim takes part in numerous creations, productions, and concerts with the Quatuor Zahir (baritone saxophone), the Chanteurs d’Oiseaux, and with prestigious ensembles such as:
➤ Ensemble Intercontemporain
➤ Orchestre des Lauréats du Conservatoire
These collaborations have led him to perform on major French stages such as:
➤ Philharmonie de Paris
➤ La Folle Journée de Nantes
➤ Théâtre du Châtelet
And internationally:
➤ Japan
➤ China
➤ Algeria
➤ Italy
➤ Croatia
➤ Austria (Vienna Konzerthaus)
➤ United Kingdom (London Wigmore Hall)
Awards and Major Projects
As a founding member of the Quatuor Zahir, Joakim Ciesla has won several prestigious awards:
➤ 1st Prize – 9th Osaka International Chamber Music Competition (Japan, 2017)
➤ Gold Medals – Manhattan, Vienna, and Berliner International Music Competitions (2019)
Curious and passionate about artistic innovation, he joined the Collectif de l’Autre Moitié in 2014, creating the musical tales Halb l’autre moitié and Loin de Garbo.
The latter was awarded the Grand Prix of the Académie Charles Cros in 2018.
Teaching and Support
A committed pedagogue, Joakim teaches saxophone at the Conservatories of Paris’ 13th and 16th districts. Since 2017, he has received support from prestigious foundations:
➤ Fondation Meyer
➤ Mécénat Musical Société Générale
➤ Fondation Nguyen Thien Dao
➤ Nippon Foundation
