At the 2024 Joseph Joachim Violin Competition, the “Joseph Joachim” prize was awarded in joint shares to Jacques Forestier and Angela Chan. Jacques Forestier also received the prized Giovanni Battista Guadagnini violin on a three-year loan from the Fritz Behrens Foundation and the Warner Classics Award for the production of a debut album. Concert promoters offered him numerous concert engagements. The audience at the NDR Konzerthaus honored his performance with the Audience Award.
https://jacquesforestier.com/
Jacques Forestier – Joseph Joachim Award Winner 2024
© Helge Krückeberg | Semifinalkonzert von Jacques Forestier 2024, begleitet von Boris Kusnezow
A welcomed artist at renowned festivals
Jacques Forestier, born 2004 in Canada, has been studying at the Curtis Institute of Music since 2022. He previously studied in the Perlman Music Program and at the Mount Royal Conservatory of Music. He takes lessons from renowned artists such as Shmuel Ashkenasi and Pamela Frank.
Forestier has won numerous major competitions, including Best Interpretation of a Canadian Work at the 2019 OSM Manulife Competition, first prize at the 2021 Shean Strings Competition, the Silver Medal and Bach Prize at the 2022 Stulberg International String Competition and third prize at the 2022 Johansen International Strings Competition. He was the only Canadian to qualify for the 2018 Yehudi Menuhin Competition in Geneva.
His concert appearances include solo performances with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, a tour with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra in May 2023 and a concert with the Western Michigan Symphony Orchestra. He is also a welcome guest at renowned festivals such as ChamberFest Cleveland and the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, where he will perform in August 2024.
Forestier has won numerous major competitions, including Best Interpretation of a Canadian Work at the 2019 OSM Manulife Competition, first prize at the 2021 Shean Strings Competition, the Silver Medal and Bach Prize at the 2022 Stulberg International String Competition and third prize at the 2022 Johansen International Strings Competition. He was the only Canadian to qualify for the 2018 Yehudi Menuhin Competition in Geneva.
His concert appearances include solo performances with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, a tour with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra in May 2023 and a concert with the Western Michigan Symphony Orchestra. He is also a welcome guest at renowned festivals such as ChamberFest Cleveland and the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, where he will perform in August 2024.
© Helge Krückeberg | Finalkonzert von Jacques Forestier 2024
Recording of Jacques Forestier’s Final Concert
September 28, 2024, at the Großer Sendesaal of the NDR Landesfunkhaus in Hanover
Jacques Forestier performing with the NDR Radiophilharmonie, conducted by Stephan Zilias
Program:
Enno Poppe: Feder (world premiere)
Antonín Dvořák: Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53
Jacques Forestier performing with the NDR Radiophilharmonie, conducted by Stephan Zilias
Program:
Enno Poppe: Feder (world premiere)
Antonín Dvořák: Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53
© Warner Classics | Cover des Debütalbums von Jacques Forestier
Jacques Forestier’s Debut Album
In August 2026, Jacques Forestier released his debut album as a soloist alongside pianist Boris Kusnezow. “Song & Dance” is a collection of violin compositions inspired by song and dance. The album’s repertoire ranges from virtuoso pieces to transcriptions of songs and folk music. The selection features composers who have played a significant role in his musical journey to date—from Brahms, Bach, and Ysaÿe to Bartók, Wagner, and Gershwin.