Received Sylff fellowship in 2020
Current affiliation: Ville de Paris
Born in a family of musicians, Joakim Ciesla chose the saxophone as his instrument of predilection before joining the Conservatoire de Lyon. After winning the 1st prize at the Nantes International Saxophone Competition in 2012, he was admitted in 2014 to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris in Claude Delangle’s class. He has since graduated with three Master's degrees in Saxophone, Pedagogy and Chamber Music, awarded with the unanimous vote of the jury.
Joakim is a musician in tune with the current era: he takes part in many creations, shows, and concerts with Zahir Quartet (baritone saxophone), Chanteurs d'Oiseaux and orchestras such as Ensemble Intercontemporain, Orchestre de l’Opera de Lyon, Ensemble Pygmalion, Orchestre de l’Opera de Rouen and Orchestre des Lauréats du Conservatoire. These various collaborations gave him the opportunity to perform all over France: Philharmonie de Paris, Folle Journée de Nantes, Théâtre du Châtelet. He also gave concerts on an international level: Japan, China, Algeria, Italy, Croatia, Austria at Vienna’s Konzerthaus, and the UK at London’s Wigmore Hall. As a founding member of Zahir Quartet, he has distinguished himself by winning the 9th Osaka International Chamber Music Competition (Japan) and won the 1st prize at the 2019 Manhattan International Music Competition and at the Berliner and Vienna.
Constantly seeking to open up, Joakim joined “Collectif de l'Autre Moitié” in 2014, with whom he created two musical tales, « Halb l'autre moitié » then « Loin de Garbo ». Loin de Garbo was awarded the prize « Grand Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros » in 2018. Also a pedagogue, he is currently teaching saxophone at the Music Academie of the 13th arrondissement of Paris. Since 2017, he benefits the support of Fondation Meyer, Mécénat Musical Société Générale, Fondation Nguyen Thien Dao, and the Nippon Foundation.
