Born in a family of musicians, Joakim Ciesla chose the saxophone as his instrument of predilection before joining the Conservatoire de Lyon. After winning the First 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 in Claude Delangle’s class. He has since graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Pedagogy and two Master's degrees in Saxophone and Chamber Music, awarded with the unanimous vote of the jury. Today he continues his Pedagogy Masters at the Conservatoire.
Joakim is a musician in tune with the current era: he takes part in many creations, shows, and concerts with Zahir Quartet (baritone saxophone), Chanteurs d'Oiseaux and orchestras such as Ensemble Intercontemporain and Orchestre des Lauréats du Conservatoire. These various collaborations gave him the opportunity to perform all over France: Philharmonie de Paris, Folle Journée de Nantes, Théâtre du Châtelet. He also gave concerts on an international level: Japan, China, Algeria, Italy, Croatia, Austria
at Vienna’s Konzerthaus, and the UK at London’s Wigmore Hall. As a founding member of Zahir Quartet, Joakim has distinguished himself by winning the 9th Osaka International Chamber Music Competition (Japan) and won the 1st prize at the 2019 Manhattan International Music Competition and at the Berliner and Vienna.
Constantly seeking to open up, Joakim joined Collectif de l'Autre Moitié in 2014, with whom he created two musical tales, Halb l'autre moitié then Loin de Garbo, which was awarded the Grand Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2018. Also a pedagogue, he is currently teaching saxophone at the Music Academies of the 13th and 16th arrondissements of Paris. Since 2017, Joakim benefits the support of Fondation Meyer, Mécénat Musical Société Générale, Fondation Nguyen Thien Dao, and the Nippon Foundation.
Photo credit: Sandro Compagnon
