Serge Collot

Collet played a 1741 viola by David Tecchler once owned and played by Théophile Laforge.

Serge Collot (27 December 1923 – 11 August 2015) was a French violist and music educator.

Born in Paris, Collot studied viola at the Conservatoire de Paris with Maurice Vieux, chamber music with Joseph Calvet, and composition with Maurice Hewitt and Arthur Honegger.

He won first prizes in viola (1944) and chamber music (1949).

Collot was a member of the Parrenin Quartet, Radiodiffusion Française String Quartet, and Bernède Quartet.

From 1957 to 1986 he was Principal Violist with the Orchestra of the Paris Opera.

In 1960 he founded Le Trio à Cordes Français with violinist Gérard Jarry and cellist Michel Tournus.

The ensemble performed together for 32 years.

Collot served as Professor of Viola for twenty years (1969–1989) at the Conservatoire de Paris.

An exponent of contemporary music, Collot performed in Pierre Boulez's Domaine Musical concerts until 1970 and has inspired many compositions for viola including Quatre Duos for viola and piano (1979) by Betsy Jolas and, in particular, the Sequenza VI for viola solo (1967) by Luciano Berio.

He has performed and lectured internationally and has served on juries of music competitions including those in Geneva and Munich.

Many contemporary violists have been his students: Pierre-Henri Xuereb, Jean Sulem (who succeeded him at the Conservatoire in 1989), Émile Cantor, Jacques Borsarello, Laurent Verney, Jean-Paul Minali Bella.

Collot was made a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur in 1989.

His life was the subject of a 2002 documentary film entitled L'ouvrage de Serge Collot and directed by Dominique Pernoo.

He died at the age of 91 in Gerzat on 11 August 2015.