Guillaume Combet

Biography

Guillaume Combet, an internationally acclaimed violinist, has been heralded in his most recent recording for his “perfect technique, fidelity to the music, and impeccable articulation." Recorded in London at the Menuhin Hall and released by SOMM Recordings in 2021, the Carlock Combet Duo's Romantic Violin Sonatas received a 5-star review by the French magazine Classica citing their “constant insights from beginning to end…their generous and rich colour palette" and Mr. Combet's “rich, captivating sound."  Their debut disc of French violin sonatas was released in 2017 also by SOMM Recordings to great critical acclaim.  Music Web International accorded them the honor of a listing both as the Recording of the Month at the time of the release, and in December of 2017, the disc was named as one of Music Web's Best Recordings for the year, 2017.  “An imaginative and intelligent program this, all three works performed with style, panache, and polish… the closing Allegro molto (of the Saint-Saëns Sonata) rushes headlong with sparkling virtuosity toward a glowing, majestic conclusion" (Music Web International).

In addition to his work with the Carlock-Combet Duo, Mr. Combet has devoted himself to orchestral playing, chamber music, and pedagogy.  He has performed with numerous orchestras and chamber ensembles in Paris, Chicago and Philadelphia— Orchestra de l'Opéra de Paris Bastille, Les Virtuoses de France, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Civic Orchestra as concertmaster under Barenboim and Boulez, soloist and assistant concertmaster of the Chicago String Ensemble, Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Network for New Music, Opera Philadelphia, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Philly Pops, Academy of Vocal Arts, Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, New Music Delaware, and Pennsylvania Ballet.  As a sought-after chamber musician, he has performed throughout the country including the Luckman Fine Arts Complex in Los Angeles, Chicago Cultural Center on the WFMT Dame Myra Hess Concert Series, University of Chicago, University of Delaware, Temple University, Philadelphia Ethical Society, and WRTI.  As a pedagogue, Mr. Combet is an Associate Professor at the University of Delaware and currently teaches at Temple University Music Preparatory Division. 

Mr. Combet graduated with a Premier Prix (First Prize) in Violin and Chamber Music from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris where he studied with Gérard Poulet and Sylvie Gazeau, and received his Advanced Certificate in Violin Performance from The Juilliard School where he studied with Joel Smirnoff, Robert Mann and William Lincer.  Mr. Combet currently lives in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania with his wife, Helen Eaton, Chief Executive Officer of Settlement Music School, and has t wo adult children pursuing careers in clinical psychology and theatre.