OLIVIER ANTHONY THEURILLAT

May 30-June 3, 2017Hershey Lodge, Hershey, PA

Olivier Anthony Theurillat (b. La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, Oct. 18, 1971) is a Swiss trumpeter and conductor. Theurillat’s father, Pierre-Yves Theurillat, was a professor of geography and his mother, Marie-Hélène (Souiller) Theurillat, was a homemaker. Olivier attended the Lycée Blaise-Cendrars in La Chaux-de-Fonds where he graduated in 1990. In addition to his general studies, he attended La Chaux-de-Fonds Conservatoire under Patrick Lehmann, graduating in 1991. Additional studies took place at the Versailles Conservatoire (1991-92 under Roger Delmotte), Paris Conservatoire CNSM (1992-95 under Antoine Curé) and The Juilliard School (1995-96 under Raymond Mase). While principal trumpet of the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra (1996-2002), he studied orchestral conducting at the “Haute Ecole de Musique” of Geneva, achieved with a Master degree in 2003.

Theurillat has won prizes at numerous trumpet solo competitions including those in Munich (ARD), Geneva (CIEM), Albert (Maurice André International Competition), Paris (Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Scholarship) and USA (National Trumpet Competition). He has appeared as a soloist throughout Europe and the United States performing more than thirty different solo works with such ensembles as the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Suisse Romande Orchestra, Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, Virtuosi di Praga, Orchestre de Picardie, Orchestre Symphonique Français, Festival Strings Lucerne, Camerata Schweiz, Collegium Musicum Basel, Cornell Chamber Orchestra, and many others. Also an active performer working with composers, Theurillat has premiered new pieces written by Jean Balissat, Emile de Ceuninck, Arturo Corrales, Xavier Dayer, Richard Dubugnon, Vivian Fung, Jacques Henry, Horatiu Radulescu, Jean-Claude Schlaepfer (CD recording of his work “Ascensus”, for trumpet and low strings, with the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra conducted by Alan Gilbert), Julien-François Zbinden. Jazz trained in the Paris Conservatoire, he has worked/performed with jazz artists like pianists Thierry Lang and Antoine Hervé, vibraphonist Franck Tortiller, saxophonist Daniel Schnyder and bassist Heiri Känzig.

He has appeared as guest professor/performer/conductor at the IV International Trumpet Festival in West Chester University (PA), Campos do Jordão International Winter Festival (São Paulo), Swiss Youth Orchestra, Junge Philharmonie Elbe-Weser, The Juilliard School, Royal Academy of Music London, Latvian Music Academy Riga, Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg, Geneva, Lucerne and Fribourg Conservatoires, Eurocuivres Summer Academy (France), Tibor Varga Summer Academy in Sion (Switzerland), Bitola (Macedonia), Curitiba (Brazil). In addition, he has been a guest trumpeter with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre de Paris, Ensemble InterContemporain Paris, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Klangforum Wien and all the major Swiss orchestras. He has recorded as a soloist and orchestral player for numerous labels including Claves, Teldec, EuroArts, Deutsche Grammophon, Swiss Radio, Grammont, Cascavelle, Arte Nova, cpo, Dabringhaus & Grimm and Gallo-VDE.

In the ancient music field, on baroque trumpet, Theurillat has worked regularly alongside of Austrian baroque trumpet expert Wolfgang Gaisböck, and played under Giovanni Antonini, Ton Koopman, Werner Ehrhardt, Fabio Biondi, Christophe Rousset, with ensembles such as Concerto Köln, L’Orfeo Barockorchester Linz, Camerata Salzburg, Camerata Bern.

Currently, Olivier Anthony Theurillat is assistant principal trumpet of the Berne Symphony Orchestra, head of brass, professor of trumpet and conductor/founder of the ensemble Brass & Rhythm at the Lausanne Conservatoire of Music (HEMU). He also teaches orchestral training at the Hochschule der Künste in Berne.

Theurillat’s solo CD Nocturne has received wide acclaim, in particular for his interpretation of Quiet City (named « best version » after blind test on the Swiss Radio, before culte version NYPhil/Bernstein for instance) and his newly orchestrated version of Enesco’s Legend (orchestration by Swiss composer Richard Dubugnon, material by Hickman Music Editons). Wynton Marsalis said of him, “His eagerness and “vivre” for music and the trumpet quickly made an impression on me.… With the 2002 release of this CD Nocturne, the trumpet community and musicians in general have a work that is a fine example of lyrical playing. In particular, Nocturne demonstrates the depth and humanity of Olivier’s sound. It was soulful, too! Olivier’s continual quest for a greater understanding of music and his strong musical goals set him apart from many other musicians. He seeks to reach an understanding in music that is pure and logical.”

In 2013, Theurillat played his first concert as leader of his own jazz band. Since then, he dedicates much of his free time to jazz music and is lucky to find some regular coaching by Wynton Marsalis, who has known Theurillat for more than 20 years.

Olivier Anthony Theurillat is married to violinist Anouk Theurillat, they have two daughters, ages 10 and 7. Theurillat’s hobbies include tennis, soccer, golf, skiing, traveling, cooking and painting.

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