Céline Bonacina (Official page)

Nominated “Instrumental Discovery” at the 2011 French Music Awards.
Winner of the 2009 Rezzo contest during Jazz à Vienne.
Third prize at the 2007 National Jazz competition in La Défense, France.
First prize at the 2007 Jazz contest in La Ciotat, France.

From the age of seven Céline studied music at the “conservatoire” (in Belfort, Besançon and Paris) then specialised in baritone saxophone in Paris big bands from 1996 to 1998. After gaining her music diplomas she moved to Reunion Island, where she taught at the regional music conservatoire for 7 years. During this time she performed in many festivals in the Indian Ocean, notably as support artist for the French National Jazz Orchestra (directed by Henri Texier) and as guest of the pianist Omar Sosa.
Back in France in 2005, she released her first album, « Vue d’en haut« , recorded on the island. Her compositions, interpreted with baritone, alto and soprano saxophones, are praised in the press (Jazz Magazine, Jazzman, Culturejazz, Sitarmag, Citizen Jazz, lDernières Nouvelles du Jazz…).
Her second album, « Way of Life« , recorded at Studio du Flon in Lausanne with the guest guitarist Nguyen Lê, was released under the ACT label in June 2010 to an enthusiastic reception from the international press and public.
She performs most often in trio, but also in quartet in many festivals in France (Jazz sous les Pommiers, Jazz à Juan, Jazz à Vienne, Jazz à la Ciotat, Radio France Festival, Jazz à Tours, Orléans Jazz) and abroad (Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, Syria, Norway…). Recently she has played in concert with Andy Sheppard, Michel Benita, Lars Danielsson, Michaël Wollny, Nils Landgren and Nguyên Lê.