Ecole Koenig

I firmly believe that the strength of a school lies not only in its educational philosophy, but also in the selection of its teachers. Whereas French Conservatories and schools in general are dependent upon the French national education system with regard to the choice of their teachers, as a private institution we are not.

The selection of our teachers is based on the following criteria:

• Their professional musical level
• Their teaching experience
• Their desire to teach
• A positive, enthusiastic contact with children

It seems clear to me that the level of personal commitment necessary to become an excellent musician is also a necessary quality for a teacher, even when dealing with a beginning student. Our staff counts graduates from leading European and American Institutions: The Juilliard School, Yale University, the Paris Conservatory, the Royal Academy of Music of London, and the Hochschule für Musik und Kunst of Vienna. Some of our teachers are performers both in France and internationally; others are active participants in the research and development of innovative teaching methods in Europe and the US. Each teacher proposes new projects for the school year that include concert-going, commissions for new works for their students, internationally recognized exams or master classes with important musicians. We have organized master classes with Herbie Hancock, Patrice Fontanarosa, Gilles Apap and Kenny Barron…
In conclusion, there is a simple rule that I like to apply regarding the choice of a staff member: “Would I choose this musician to teach my own children?” I am happy to personally confirm the excellence of our teaching staff!

 - Joan Koenig, May 2007

Originally from Orleans, Laurent Bronner studied both classical and Jazz piano as a youth.

From 1995 to 1997, he taught Musicianship Courses at the Conservatory in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. Since 1996, he has taught classical, jazz and pop music at the CEMC in Clamart and in Versailles. He joined the pedagaogical team at l’ Ecole Koenig in 1999.

Laurent has performed in both a jazz quartet and quintet : at the Duc des Lombards in 1996, at the Barcelonnette Festival in 1995 and 1996, at the Café de la Musique in 1997 and 1998 and at the Leila Festival in Spain.As an accompanist he has performed in many stage shows such as: “The Amuse Girls” (”Cité de la Musique” and “Printemps de Bourges” in 1999 ; “Théâtre du Renard” in Paris in 2001; “La Maroquinerie” in 2002), “Le Jardin Extraordinaire” based on the music of Charles Trenet for the Jeunesses Musicales of France in 2001-2002 and “Monsieur No” in 2003-2005.
If you want to listen to the music of Laurent Bronner’s jazz trio please click on : http://www.myspace.com/lobronnertrio

An American guitarist, David Garlitz studied at Wesleyan and Temple Universities where he specialized in guitar and Latin music. He has been professor of guitar and jazz ensembles in Philadelphia.

As a guitarist and percussionist, David has performed with the Cuban group “Conjunto 23”, the pianist Elio Villafranca and the grammy-award-winning “Relâche Ensemble”.
He has been working for the Koenig School since September 2007 where he has been in charge of the School’s guitar classes.

Joan Koenig began the piano when she was 5 years old, followed by the flute. The winner of numerous young peoples competitions, she was a featured soloist with the National Symphony Orchestre at the age of 16. She entered the Juilliard School in 1977 then pursued her studies in France with Alain Marion. Enamored with France, wine and foie gras, she moved to Paris definitively in 1984.

She played as a soloist and chamber musician with Alexander Lagoya, Patrice Fontanarosa and Frédérique l’Odéon among others. Passionate about teaching, Joan taught in several Parisian conservatories before deciding to open an “alternative music school.”

The school opened in 1986 with ten students of flute and piano. Quickly joined by Elizabeth Schlesinger, and Margaret Cook, the adventure of the school began. She thanks the stars that she understood very little about business at the beginning of the project, and to have had several “guardian angels” over the years!

Paola Urbina Barnes studied piano both in Chile and at the University of Maryland in the United States where she received her masters degree. She obtained a teaching diploma in Paris from l’ Ecole Normale de Musique Alfred Cortot in 2003 and won a first prize with honors in piano and chamber music at the Romainville Conservatory in 2004 and 2005.

In addition to her studies, Paola has also taught piano at all levels in Chile, the States, Austria, Mozambique and France.

As a pianist, she has performed solo and chamber music in the States, Chile and in France and is now performing in trio with the singers Herga Munoz and Guiseppe Grazioli. Adept at various repertoires spanning from Classical to Jazz, Paola joined teaching staff at Ecole Koenig in September 2005.