Frédéric Rapin

Frédéric Rapin studied the clarinet in Neuchâtel, Lausanne, Nice, and Paris, notably with Claude Trifoni, Robert Kemblinsky, and Jacques Lancelot. His studies at the Conservatory, marked by several prizes and distinctions reserved for young artists, were crowned with a first prize in virtuosity and a soloist license with honors from the jury. Alongside his musical education, he obtained a university degree. Initially a professor at the Conservatories of Fribourg and Neuchâtel, he later held the position of principal soloist at the Musikkollegium Winterthur Orchestra before being appointed to the Haute École de Musique in Lausanne, where he directs a class in virtuosity and chamber music.

Several composers have written works for him, including Andor Kovach, Jean Balissat, Michel Hostettler, Henri Scolari, Alexis Chalier, and François-Xavier Delacoste. Frédéric Rapin performs in several European countries. He has notably played as a soloist with conductors such as Marcello Viotti, Armin Jordan, Mario Venzago, Jost Meier, Jean-Marie Auberson, Franz Welser-Möst, Jean-François Antonioli, Paul Capolongo, Ettore Brero, Jean-François Monnard, Hervé Klopfenstein, and Olivier Cuendet. In chamber music, he collaborates with the Berlin Philharmonic String Quartet, the Quatuor Sine Domine, pianists Dana Ciocarlie and Gérard Wyss, violist Bruno Pasquier, cellists Patrick Demenga and François Salque, soprano Brigitte Balleys, and horn player Bruno Schneider.

Frédéric Rapin has recorded no less than fifteen clarinet concertos with orchestra for labels such as Timpani, Cascavelle, Pan Classics, Grammont, and Doron Music. He has, among others, recorded the complete clarinet concertos by Carl Maria von Weber and a CD dedicated to Swiss composers’ concertos. He also conducts a master class at the International Summer Academy in Biel, in collaboration with the Budweis Philharmonic Orchestra.

Highly committed to nature conservation, he is the author of an important photographic documentation dedicated to the Jura region, whose natural heritage he advocates for.