Romain Leleu
Romain Leleu studied trumpet at the Paris Conservatoire (CNSM), where he earned first prizes in trumpet and chamber music before refining his skills with Reinhold Friedrich at the Musikhochschule in Karlsruhe. A musician of great artistry, he made his solo debut at the age of 14 and has since built an acclaimed career as a trumpet soloist. Moving seamlessly between Baroque repertoire and contemporary creations, he inspires modern composers and expands the trumpet repertoire with innovative transcriptions that transcend stylistic and historical boundaries.
In 2010, he founded Ensemble Convergences, now known as the Romain Leleu Sextet, a fusion of trumpet and string quintet that reimagines classical and popular masterpieces. In 2020, he also launched the Duo Leleu Brothers with his brother, tubist Thomas Leleu.
Renowned for his luminous, virtuosic playing and flawless technique, Romain Leleu has received numerous honors, including “Révélation Classique” from Adami, awards from the Fondation Banque Populaire and Fondation SAFRAN, and the Del Duca Prize from the Académie des Beaux-Arts. He was named “Instrumental Solo Revelation” at the Victoires de la Musique Classique and was appointed Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters.
Performing as a soloist on five continents, he has appeared at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Philharmonie Luxembourg, and Seoul Arts Center, both in recital and with leading orchestras. His collaborative spirit shines in chamber music alongside Thierry Escaich, Adam Laloum, Ibrahim Maalouf, and Frank Braley.
Romain Leleu has taught trumpet at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Lyon and regularly leads masterclasses abroad. He also serves as collection director for Éditions Gérard Billaudot in Paris.
His recordings, celebrated by critics and audiences alike, include a standout album of classical concertos by Haydn, Hummel, and Neruda, which earned accolades such as Classique d’Or RTL, 5 Diapasons, and praise from Pizzicato and Resmusica.
In the 2021-22 season, he performed with the Stuttgart Philharmonic, Zuger Sinfonietta, and debuted with the Essen Philharmonic. He also toured with the Romain Leleu Sextet in the Face(s) à Face(s) program and collaborated with Thierry Escaich in Vocalises, including a performance at the Bratislava Philharmonic.
His debut on the Harmonia Mundi label includes two significant recordings: Move with the Stuttgart Philharmonic and Marcus Bosch, and a new album with the Romain Leleu Sextet.