Sarah Nemtanu stands among Europe’s most charismatic and influential violinists, celebrated for her commanding stage presence, expressive tone and remarkable energy as orchestral leader, soloist and chamber musician.

Appointed concertmaster of the Orchestre National de France in 2002 at just 21 years of age under the direction of Kurt Masur, she became the youngest musician in the orchestra’s history to hold this position.From 1 January 2026, she will assume the prestigious role of concertmaster of the Orchestre de Paris, at the invitation of Music Director Klaus Mäkelä, marking a significant new chapter in her career.

Born in Bordeaux into a family of Romanian musicians, she began studying the violin with her father, Vladimir Nemtanu, concertmaster of the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine. She continued her studies at the Conservatoire in Bordeaux, receiving gold medals in violin and chamber music, before entering the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, where she studied with Gérard Poulet and Pierre-Laurent Aimard.

Her early success includes First Prize at the Maurice Ravel Academy in 1998 and Third Prize at the International Stradivarius Competition in 2001. In 2011, Le Figaro Magazine named her among the six most influential female violinists in the world.

As a soloist, she has performed with leading orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and the Orchestre National de France, collaborating with conductors including Bernard Haitink, Sir Colin Davis, Riccardo Muti, Valery Gergiev, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Herbert Blomstedt.

Her repertoire bridges core classical works and contemporary creations, as well as crossover projects. Her bestselling album Gypsic, released by Naïve in 2010, evokes Romanian and Balkan influences, while Tchaikovsky Live from 2013 highlights her commanding interpretation of Romantic repertoire. She has also recorded chamber music alongside her sister, Deborah Nemtanu, principal viola of the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris.

Deeply connected to her Romanian heritage, Sarah Nemtanu frequently performs works by George Enescu and appears regularly in Romania, including at the George Enescu International Festival, often collaborating with conductor Cristian Măcelaru.

Alongside her performing career, she is committed to education and the transmission of orchestral culture to younger generations, serving as a violin professor at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris since 2022.

Through artistic generosity, stylistic versatility and natural leadership, Sarah Nemtanu has established herself as a defining presence on today’s international classical music stage.