Elian Ramamonjisoa, piano
A piano journey marked by light and shadow, in which Frédéric Chopin’s and Alexander Scriabin’s 24 Preludes echo and intertwine, creating a dialogue between the intimate and the visionary, poetry and harmonic fervor.
The journey concludes with Chopin’s Scherzo No. 2, a masterpiece of contrasts, ranging from impetuous bursts to moments of suspended intimacy.
Biography of Elian Ramamonjisoa
It was in 2003, at the age of just five, that Elian Ramamonjisoa discovered the world of the piano when he first walked through the doors of the Conservatoire national à rayonnement régional (CNRR) in Marseille. In Jacqueline Apchie’s class, he experienced what might be called a musical spark—a defining revelation.
In 2007, he continued his training under the guidance of Anne-Marie Ghirardelli, and in 2010, at the age of 11, he was chosen to represent his school at the prestigious Chopin Bicentennial in Châteauroux. It was a highlight of his career, supported by two leading figures in the piano world: Brigitte Engerer and Abdel Rahman El Bacha.
His passion quickly took shape. Elian joined Hélène Selvides’s class, where, at just fourteen years old, he earned his piano diploma with honors. He also honed his skills in chamber music under Jean-Claude Latil, again receiving honors. At fifteen, he completed his advanced diploma and then began an advanced program with Jean-Baptiste Fonlupt. Three years of rigorous training, musical depth, and relentless work led him, at eighteen, to enter the Paris National Conservatory of Music and Dance (CNSMDP).
In 2017, he joined Hortense Cartier-Bresson’s class. The following years marked the blossoming of a young talent in full bloom. In 2019, he won second prize at the Lagny-sur-Marne International Competition (Youth category), second prize at the Les Virtuoses du Cœur competition, as well as the City of Clichy Prize and the Audience Prize. That same year, he also won second prize at the Île-de-France International Piano Competition (Excellence category), an achievement that earned him a spot on a recital tour in Spain organized by the CNSMDP.
In 2021, he was invited to perform at numerous renowned festivals: the Chopin Festival in Nohant, the Auvers-sur-Oise Festival, and the Fêtes Romantiques in Croissy-sur-Seine. In 2022, he was selected among the young pianists for the Piano Campus Festival, where he performed in the opening of the concert “Two Pianos for Four Pianists.” He won second prize at the Collioure International Competition, third prize at the Pays de Cognac Competition (Excellence category), and gave a recital at the Théâtre de Fontainebleau. He completed his advanced studies at the CNSMDP with honors, while also earning a bachelor’s degree in musicology from Paris-Sorbonne University. On June 25, 2022, he made a notable appearance on France Musique in Clément Rochefort’s program Générations France Musique, performing Debussy’s L’Isle joyeuse.
The year 2023 marks a new milestone. Elian earned his Concert Diploma from the Schola Cantorum, receiving a unanimous “Highest Honors” rating. A week later, he won first prize by unanimous decision at the 6th Aliénor de Parempuyre International Piano Challenge. In September, he returned to the airwaves on France Musique and enrolled in the Artist Diploma program at the École normale de musique de Paris Alfred Cortot, in Olivier Gardon’s class. A few weeks later, he gave a recital at the Salle Cortot, before performing at the Château de Chantilly as part of the Grands pianistes & Jeunes talents festival, at the invitation of Olivier Cazal.
In February 2024, he achieved another major milestone: representing France, he won first prize and the Campus d’Or at the 22nd Piano Campus International Competition. This victory was accompanied by numerous awards: the Île-de-France Region Honorary Prize, the Audience Prize, the Crédit Agricole Prize, the Prize for Best Contemporary Interpretation (Cri by Fabien Touchard), the Würth Museum Piano Festival Prize, the Association Du piano retrouvé Prize, and the Musicales d’Arnouville Prize. He then received a scholarship from the Yamaha Music Europe Foundation – Piano 2024, and a few months later, the SAFRAN Foundation awarded him the title of Young Talent Laureate 2024–2025.
In 2025, Elian was selected by his school to perform live on France Musique from the legendary Salle Cortot on the program Génération France Musique—his third appearance on the show. A month later, he completed his Artist Diploma at the École Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred Cortot, graduating with unanimous honors, the ultimate recognition of a journey marked by emotion, rigor, and an unwavering passion for music.
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