Gaillard succeeds Haefliger in Sion

Ophélie Gaillard has been professor of cello at the HEM in Geneva since 2014 and is now moving to Sion. Daniel Haefliger will retire at the end of the academic year.

Gaillard began her career in 2003 as «Discovery of the Year» in the instrumental soloist category at the Victoires de la musique classique and has since performed in recitals and as a soloist with renowned orchestras in Europe, Asia and America, while at the same time being strongly committed to contemporary music. In 2005 she founded the Pulcinella Orchestra, an ensemble dedicated to the repertoire of the 17th and 18th centuries on period instruments, of which she is the artistic director. Her discography includes numerous recordings dedicated in particular to Bach, Britten, Schumann, Fauré, Brahms and Boccherini.

The HEMU - Valais-Wallis is one of the teaching locations of the HEMU (Haute École de Musique). Its teaching staff offer Bachelor's and Master's degree courses in classical music, including violin, viola, cello and double bass as well as guitar, which are taught exclusively at this HEMU site. In October 2024, the HEMU - Valais-Wallis site moved into the new Pôle Musique Sion.