Practical Information
Early Bird Offer for FCA 2026 !
Out of the 42 students admitted to the French Connection Academy 2026, the 10 students who applied first will receive an exclusive Early Bird discount of 300 DKK on the tuition fee.
– Early Bird Fee: 2.300 DKK
– Regular Fee: 2.600 DKK
APPLY NOW
HOW TO APPLY ?
International young musicians between 14 – 32 years old who want to become professionals, are welcome to apply!
VIOLIN • VIOLA • CELLO • PIANO • IMPROVISATION
1 spot pr. class will be reserved for students under 18 years old.
We welcome you to apply with:
- A video recording lasting 10-15 minutes (max), featuring repertoire of your choice, dated no older than one year (as of January 2025).
- A short motivation video
- Two orchestral excerpts for string players, as we will end the academy with a big concert – featuring Beethoven Tripple Concerto with FCA professors as soloists and FCA String Players in the orchestra.
A normal phone recording will do for the excerpts – no need for professional recording.
CONTENT
The FCA course fee includes Pedagogical fees + Meals = 4,999 DKK (Earlybirds: 4,699 DKK).
To this comes the option of housing, that you can see below.
Pedagogical Fee
For a fee of 2,600 DKK, participants receive:
3 hours of solo lessons – accompanied by piano for string players.
Opportunity for a video-produced masterclass.
Daily house concerts open to public.
Opportunity to perform in the 2 grand concerts with prize ceremonies as well as a final string orchestra concert with professors as soloists
Opportunity to win concert prizes at festivals, as well as career development sessions, performance psychology classes…
Lecture about Danish and French culture with Catherine Lefebvre
Personalised string setup for each instrument by Larsen Strings (sponsor)
Meals
The prize for all meals is 2.399 DKK
All meals are served in the canteen of Odense Symphony Orchestra.
We focus on healthy comfort food and welcome vegetarians and vegans.
A coffee & tea station is available throughout the day in the canteen.
Housing Options
Participants have two housing options:
Living with other students through our collaborations with different local Airbnbs (ranging between 1.880-2160 DKK per student, for 6 nights)
Arranging private accommodation independently
The Application fee is 150 DKK and it’s here to support the structure behind the academy. The fee is non refundable once the application has been submitted.
PRIZES TO WIN
We believe in creating professional opportunities for our students, so concrete professional experiences and resumes are built during the students education.
Several concerts for a student in a chamber music festival in Norway - January 2027
TEACHERS
Alexandre Kantorow
PIANO
Alexandre Kantorow rose to international prominence at a young age by winning the 1st prize and the Grand Prix at the Tchaikovsky Competition in 2019, at just 22 years old. Renowned for his virtuosity and stylistic depth, he performs regularly in recital and as a soloist with leading orchestras across Europe, North America, and Asia. He collaborates with conductors such as Paavo Järvi, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Sir Antonio Pappano, and appears frequently in chamber music with artists including Janine Jansen, Renaud Capuçon, Gautier Capuçon, and Matthias Goerne.
Katrine Gislinge
PIANO
Katrine Gislinge is recognized as one of the most distinguished Scandinavian pianists of her generation. She performs regularly as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe and the United States, and is widely praised for the expressive depth and refinement of her interpretations. Her repertoire ranges from Bach to contemporary music, with a particular affinity for Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert, as well as for Danish composers such as Per Nørgård and Bent Sørensen. She collaborates with many internationally renowned musicians and conductors, and appears in major concert halls and festivals, combining artistic rigor with poetic sensitivity.
Augustin Dumay
VIOLIN
Augustin Dumay is one of the leading figures of French violin playing. Trained at the Paris Conservatoire, he distinguished himself at an early age on the international stage and was supported by masters such as Arthur Grumiaux and Nathan Milstein. He has appeared as a soloist with the world’s major orchestras and conductors, including Herbert von Karajan, Sir Colin Davis, and Seiji Ozawa, and is regularly invited by prestigious ensembles throughout Europe and Japan. Alongside his career as a violinist, he has developed a distinguished activity as a conductor and served as Music Director of the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra in Osaka. Augustin Dumay plays a 1721 Stradivarius once owned by Fritz Kreisler.
Anna Agafia Egholm
VIOLIN
Anna Agafia has quickly established herself as one of the most notable violinists to emerge from the Scandinavian scene. A laureate of several international competitions, including Tibor Varga, Nielsen, and the Stuttgart Guadagnini Stiftung, she is distinguished by her rich tonal palette and strong musical intelligence. She has appeared as a soloist with numerous prestigious orchestras across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and regularly collaborates in chamber music with leading artists. In 2023, she released a highly acclaimed debut recording, confirming her place among the most promising artistic personalities of her generation.
Niklas Walentin
VIOLIN
Niklas Walentin is a Danish-Swiss violinist in demand on the international scene as a soloist, chamber musician, and pedagogue. A laureate of numerous competitions and distinctions, including the Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition and several awards from the Danish Arts Council, he performs in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Mariinsky Theatre, and Wigmore Hall. Deeply committed to chamber music, he is a founding member of Trio Vitruvi, with whom he maintains an active concert life in Europe and internationally, while developing artistic projects that combine music with other performing arts.
Françoise Gnéri
VIOLA
Françoise Gnéri is a French violist with an eclectic career, recognised for her strong artistic and pedagogical commitment. After thirteen years at the CNSMD in Lyon, she was appointed Professor at the CNSMD in Paris in 2023. An active soloist and chamber musician, she has performed on major stages in France and internationally, collaborating with numerous renowned artists and conductors. Her work, marked by a strong engagement with contemporary creation and transmission, is complemented by a critically acclaimed discography and projects aimed at bringing classical music to new audiences.
Bjørg Lewis
CELLO
Bjørg Lewis is an internationally renowned Norwegian cellist, recognised for her work as a soloist, chamber musician, and pedagogue. A founding member of the Vertavo String Quartet, she has performed in the world’s leading concert halls and appeared at many major festivals. Former Artistic Director of the Elverum Festival, she is currently Associate Professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music and is regularly invited to give masterclasses and serve on juries of international competitions. She plays a cello by Gennaro Gagliano dating from 1748.
Jean-Baptiste Doulcet
Co-founder & International Relations
Co-founder of French Connection Academy. Pianist, improviser, and composer with an active international concert career. Jean-Baptiste works at the intersection of artistic practice and institutional development, drawing on his network and engagement to connect the academy with international partners, foundations, and patrons. His work is driven by a commitment to creating sustainable frameworks for artistic growth and human development.
CONTENT
A short overview of some of the specially prepared elements you’ll experience and have access to at the academy.
Solo lessons
3 x 60 min Solo lessons - Open for academy students to listen to in great locations. String players’ lessons will be accompanied by a pianist when needed.
Daily house concerts
The daily house concerts are now open to public and held at the end of each day; the involvement of students is appreciated and taken in consideration for the prize-winning concert at the end of the academy.
Grand Final Concert
Consists of a long final concert in two parts; open to public. The teacher will be deciding the program, considering the repertoire they worked with and the balance of the general timing.
Masterclasses
A lesson open to the public and filmed. The video will be accessible online later and will give other musicians an opportunity to benefit the pedagogical tools of our teachers and discover the students talent.
Inspiring speaker
This years’ theme will be Fantastic Andersen and our speaker is Catherine Lefebvre, director of Fondation Danois and Attaché of culture and press at the Danish Embassy in France.
Coaching
The academy coach and trust person can be booked for a session by anyone taking part of the academy to receive guidance on subjects such as performance under stress, mindfulness and personal development.
FCA ALUMNI
STUDENTS & LAUREATES
NAME
Adi Neuhaus
Aksel Basaran
Albin Axelsson
Aleksander Roman
Alicia Niu
Alma Amoyel
Alva Wadströmer
Anastasija Gichevska
Ani Shinjikashvili
Antonia Fuglsang
Antonin Bonnet
Arthur Gautier
A. S. Halfdanardottir
Astri Aareskjold
Augustinas Eidukonis
Aurore Cuvelier
Ayaka Matsuda
Baptiste Athanassiadis
Barbara Kammer
Belle Ting
Bénédicte Leclerc
Benedikte Dalgas
Birk Bosrup Blyverket
Brecht Valckenaers
Cassandra Teissedre
Chimène Duquaire
Christophe Madelin
Clara Lacout
Coline Moreau
Daniel Stein
Daniel Streicher
Doireann Ní Aodáin
Dorothy Choi
Elektra Oikonomi
Eliza Melillo
Ella Oksava
Emanuela Russo
Emil Dalgaard
Ester Stålberg
Etienne Caron
Florence Geneau
France Bernier
Gabriel Bernès
Gabriel Piscator
George Shiolashvili
Hanna Welander
Hélène François
Herman Pellbäck
Ilan Zajtmann
Iris Scialom
Ivan S. Bengtsson
James He
Jonathan Corriveau
Julia Krajnovic
Julie Berntsen
Julie Haismann
Justina La Cour
Kateřina Jelínková
Lara Sauermann
Laure Cholé
Liel Banchi
Lingyi Zhao
Linnea Vikström
Lisa Maslenko
Lucas Bischoff
Luchiia Koval
Luís Dias Canali
Maitena Paillet
Mariam Mnatsakanyan
Marina Nikolova
Marina Saiki
Mathilde Walter
Mélody Lagache
Michelle Shulman
Mila Gostijanović
Monika Brecko
N. Karahanogullari
Nikita Khnykin
Nils Vernazobres
Oleksandra Kiktenko
Oriane Lavignolle
Patrick Préjean
Radwan Chan
Romain Jansen
Samuel Meguro
Sara Ishida
Schéhérazade Riolet
Sebastian Corriveau
Ségolène Thierry
Sofie Kusinska
Stella Almondo
Thea Piscator
Théotime Gillot
Tilda Suntian Shen
Tiphaine Lucas
Vilina Rainisto
Ying Yuen Lau
Yuki Kinouchi
Zelda Risberg
Zen Matsuzaki
YEAR
2023
2023
2023
2025
2024
2023
2025
2024
2025
2023
2025
2024
2023
2023
2024
2025
2024
2025
2024
2025
2025
2025
2024
2023
2023, 2025
2024
2024
2024
2025
2024
2023
2023
2024
2024
2023
2025
2025
2025
2024
2025
2023
2025
2023
2024
2025
2024
2025
2024
2025
2025
2024
2023
2024
2024
2024
2023, 2025
2024
2024
2025
2025
2024
2025
2023
2025
2025
2024
2024
2023, 2024, 2025
2023
2025
2023
2025
2024, 2025
2023, 2024
2025
2024
2024
2023
2024
2025
2024
2025
2023
2023, 2025
2023
2024
2025
2024
2023
2024
2023
2023, 2024
2024
2024
2025
2025
2023
2024
2024
2024
NATIONALITY
ISRAEL
TURKEY
SWEDEN
DENMARK
FRANCE
FRANCE
SWEDEN
NORTH MACEDONIA
GEORGIA
DENMARK
FRANCE
FRANCE
ICELAND
SWEDEN
LITHUANIA
FRANCE
FRANCE/JAPAN
FRANCE
POLAND
CANADA/TAIWAN
FRANCE
DENMARK
NORWAY
NETHERLANDS
FRANCE
FRANCE
FRANCE
FRANCE
FRANCE
USA
GERMANY
IRELAND
CHINA
SWEDEN
MALTA
FINLAND
ITALY
DENMARK
SWEDEN
FRANCE
CANADA
FRANCE
FRANCE
SWEDEN
GEORGIA
SWEDEN
FRANCE
SWEDEN
FRANCE
FRANCE
ARGENTINA/DENMARK
AUSTRALIA
NORWAY
SWEDEN
SWEDEN
FRANCE
DENMARK
CZECH REPUBLIC
FRANCE/GERMANY
FRANCE
ITALY
CHINA
SWEDEN
FRANCE
FRANCE
UKRAINE
PORTUGAL
FRANCE
FRANCE
DENMARK/BULGARIA
FRANCE/JAPAN
SWITZERLAND
FRANCE
SWEDEN
FRANCE
HUNGARY
EGYPT
SWEDEN/NORWAY
FRANCE
UKRAINE
FRANCE
USA
CHINA
FRANCE
SWEDEN
JAPAN
FRANCE
NORWAY
FRANCE
DENMARK
MONARCO
SWEDEN
FRANCE
AUSTRALIA
FRANCE
FINLAND
CHINA
JAPAN
SWEDEN
FRANCE/JAPAN
LOCATIONS
ODENSE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Canteen and Lessons
Claus Bergs Gade 9, 5000 Odense
ODENSE CITY HALL
Masterclasses, Lectures, Concerts
Flakhaven 2, 5000 Odense
HENRIETTE HØRLYCKS SCHOOL
Practice Facilities
Slotvænget 3, 5000 Odense C