Born in 2001, French violist Héloïse Houzé graduated from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, where she earned her Master’s degree in 2022 with highest honours in Jean Sulem’s class, before completing the institution’s postgraduate programme. In June 2026, she concludes her residency at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel under the guidance of Miguel da Silva, while also completing the Programme Élite at the École normale de musique de Paris in Gérard Caussé’s class.
In 2022, she was awarded the Ravel Academy Prize in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, followed by Second Prize and the Audience Prize at the Oskar Nedbal International Viola Competition in Prague in 2023. She has also distinguished herself at the Prague Spring, Anton Rubinstein and Brahms competitions. Selected twice as a solo participant at the prestigious Verbier Festival Academy, in 2024 and again in 2026, she continues to build an increasingly international artistic career.
A regular guest principal violist with leading European orchestras, including the Belgian National Orchestra and the Orchestre de Paris, she has appeared at renowned festivals such as Génération Aix at the Easter Festival in Aix-en-Provence and the Académie Ravel.
Driven by a constant desire to deepen her musical understanding, explore an ever-wider repertoire, refine her harmonic awareness and expand her knowledge of orchestration, Houzé has also developed a keen interest in conducting. In February 2026, she founded the Talismans Ensemble, through which she brings together her commitment to the viola concerto repertoire with her practice of conducting and directing from the instrument.
