Montreal-born cellist Marc Labranch holds a bachelor’s degree from the Schulich School of Music, McGill University (Schulich Scholarship, Valerie Wood Memorial Cello Award, Dean’s Honour List) and a master’s degree from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London UK (Leverhulme Trust Scholarship). Teachers include Guy Fouquet, David Hetherington, Elizabeth Dolin, John Kadz and Richard Lester.
Marc regularly performs at major venues in North America, Europe and Asia, with renowned artists and prestigious ensembles. Important collaborations include performances with James Boyd (London Haydn Quartet), David Alberman (principal second violin, London Symphony Orchestra; Arditti Quartet), Gabrielle Lester (Barbican Trio), Mark Fewer (SuperNova Quartet; Duke Trio), Ronald Birks (Chilingirian Quartet), Richard Lester (Florestan Trio; London Haydn Quartet), Anton Kuerti, Laura Samuel (Belcea Quartet; Nash Ensemble), Jonathan Crow (SuperNova Quartet; New Orford Quartet; Concertmaster, Toronto Symphony Orchestra) and Teng Li (Principal viola, Toronto Symphony Orchestra).
Marc is principal cellist of many ensembles in which he plays: The Royal Conservatory Orchestra, the McGill Symphony Orchestra, the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, the Guildhall Opera Orchestra, etc. He also received orchestral training with prestigious ensembles such as the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival Orchester (Germany).
Polyvalent musician, Marc likes to tackle other types of music, such as improvisation and pop music. He performs regularly with singers such as Ben Wilkins and Coeur de Pirate, who invited him to be part of her 2010 concert at the Francofolies de Montréal. He also regularly performs in less conventional venues, such as homeless mission houses, as well as pubs and bars, in an effort to bring classical music to a broader audience.