BIO

Gaëlle Solal is an internationally acclaimed guitarist celebrated for her artistry, versatility, and adventurous musical spirit. Born into a music-loving family in Marseille, France, she began studying guitar at the age of five and entered the Paris Conservatoire at sixteen, later graduating with the institution’s highest honors.

In 1998, Solal became the first French woman to win the prestigious Alessandria International Guitar Competition in Italy, launching an international career that has brought her to major stages in more than forty countries as a soloist, chamber musician, and concerto performer. She has also earned numerous awards and distinctions in international competitions throughout Europe.

During the early 2000s, she lived in Andalusia, Spain, where she taught at the Conservatories of Córdoba and Seville while continuing advanced musical studies and performing internationally. After ten years as a member of the Astor Duo, she returned fully to her solo career and soon received second prize at the Guitar Foundation of America International Competition, further solidifying her reputation on the international stage.

Known for her artistic freedom and wide-ranging repertoire, Solal moves effortlessly between traditional classical programs and innovative projects, from Bach to The Beatles, and from contemporary music to baroque repertoire. Her creative personality also led to the formation of the duo Crazy Nails!, reflecting her theatricality, humor, and passion for connecting with audiences in unexpected ways.

A dedicated advocate for women in music, Solal founded Guitar’Elles, an initiative promoting the visibility and presence of women in the classical guitar world. Alongside her performing career, she remains active as an educator and mentor through masterclasses and artistic collaborations around the world.

Gaëlle Solal has lived in Brussels since 2011 and continues to captivate audiences internationally with performances marked by elegance, imagination, and expressive depth.