Lisa MESCHI
Violonist

Lisa received a grant to buy a new high-quality violin. 

What is your artistic background ?
I began learning the violin at the age of seven at the municipal conservatory of Vence, in the Alpes Maritimes, with Sylvie Gaglio. Having fallen in love with the instrument, its sound and the soothing sensations it gives you when you play it, I don't remember having any other ambition than to become a violinist "when I grow up". Five years later, I joined the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Nice, in Paul Fichter's class. In order to deepen my theoretical knowledge of music and to adapt my schedule to the practice of the instrument, I chose to take a Music Baccalauréat. I then went on to study two years of Musicology at La Sorbonne, while continuing my work on the instrument at the 13th arrondissement conservatory in Paris. Back in Nice, I obtained my DEM with honours and entered the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, in the class of Gina McCormack. The four years I spent in England enriched me with wonderful experiences and encounters with truly great performing musicians. This has allowed me to create artistic links with musicians from all over the world, including "my" pianist and good friend Sid Ramchander, from Bahrain, with whom I have given several recitals. Our aim is to continue, as much as distance allows. This kind of strong artistic bond marks you forever! Today I live in Lyon, I teach and have created a violin-cello duo (Duo Bela, with cellist Florian Erpelding) and our aim is to take classical music to new contexts and communities. I continue to refine my technique with Laurence Ketels-Dufour and Marc Danel.

How do you see your profession today ?
Every artist has a message to convey, and that requires a lot of energy. Sometimes you have to know how to make a lot of sacrifices, compromise with yourself, show a lot of discipline, patience and determination, but it always ends up bearing fruit. The message that I would like to convey through classical music, among others, is a message of peace and reconciliation, because that's what we all need and what makes people happier, healthier, and puts a smile on their faces.

How do you see yourself in 5 years ? In 10 years ?
Good question! Life is constantly surprising and full of encounters, especially when you are in the arts. Having said that, I see myself moving between rehearsals and chamber music or orchestral concerts, recording and teaching. Developing my own series of chamber music concerts, as well as my own ‘way’ of teaching. Teaching is a very important part of the classical music field: strong tuition will generate strong artists. Today this is not always the case, and I want to fight for this to change. Music is my passion and I can't help but want to transmit that, by all possible means, and that's what I will do.

This interview was conducted in 2017
Photo credit: Antonin Amy-Menichetti