Hailed “THE violinist of the twenty-first century” by the late Yehudi Menuhin, Gilles Apap seems to find praise wherever he turns. He is embraced worldwide for his distinct talent of incorporating styles of music as diverse as American bluegrass and Gypsy fiddling with the standards of the classical repertoire, suggesting that Apap is of the opinion that all music is created equal.

Apap’s recent highlights include performances at Paris’s prestigious Théâtre du Châtelet with the Pas-du-Loup Philharmonic Orchestra; with the Orchestre de Chambre de Geneve in Alban Berg’s demanding violin concerto; with the WDR  Radio Orchestra in Cologne, Germany; with the Bursa Symphony orchestra in Turkey; and with the Orchestre Philharmonic de Nice. Apap takes the listener on a musical voyage from Bach and Ysaye to Irish jigs and American folk music with a program of solo violin works featured in recitals throughout Europe and the United States and on his latest CD, Music for Solo Violin.

In the fall of 2006, Apap joined the internationally-acclaimed Irish fiddler Kevin Burke in a tour with the Celtic Fiddle Festival in a collaboration that bridges the gap between classical and folk music. Colors of Invention, the fiery ensemble founded by Apap in 2000, features accordion player Myriam Lafar, double bassist Philippe Noharet and cymbalist Ludovit Kovac. These players continue to dazzle audiences worldwide with their virtuosity and inimitable renditions of Vivald’s Four Seasons and other classical favorites intertwined with traditional folk and gypsy tunes.
As a soloist,  Apap has appeared with the Israel Philharmonic, Berliner Symphoniker, Strasbourg Philharmonie, Orchestre National de Lille, San Francisco Symphony, Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Kammerphilharmonie Amadé Orchestra, Orchestre Nationale l’ile de France, Bern Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver and Winnipeg symphonies, Russian National Orchestra, New Zealand Chamber Orchestra, Santa Barbara Symphony, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonie de Bretagne, Prague Chamber Orchestra, Dresden Philharmonic, Hamburg Symphony, European Soloists Orchestra in Brussels, and the Tokyo Mozart Players among  many others. A much sought-after clinician, Apap continues to inspire young musicians through workshops and master classes with residencies at the Music Academy of the West (Santa Barbara, California), Malmo Music Academy (Sweden), Le Grenier de la Mothe (France), Mark O’Connor’s Fiddle Camp, University of Benares in India and other educational institutions.
Born in Algeria, Gilles Apap was raised in Nice where his violin studies commenced with André Robert. He continued his education at the Conservatoire de Musique de Nice with Gustave Gaglio and then at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Lyon with Veda Reynolds.  He traveled to the United States to attend the Curtis Institute of Music and soon after, chose to settle in California. He was later appointed Concertmaster of the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra and served in that role for over a decade. Apap’s talent was recognized by Yehudi Menuhin in 1985 when he brought himself to the attention of the great pedagogue by winning the Contemporary Music Prize at the prestigious International Menuhin Competition.

In March of 1999, at the invitation of Menuhin, Apap joined the Sinfonia Varsovia for concerts in Paris and Montepellier. These performances led to a very successful series of concerts at the 2000 Octobre en Normandie Festival in France, and further concerts and recording projects with the orchestra. 

Apap’s various CDs can be found on his label Apapaziz Productions. His DVD documentary Apap Masala (produced by Idéale Audience) may be found, along with the recordings, at www.gillesapap.com.