Ray Lema is one of the most remarkable musicians on today’s world music scene combining jazz, world music, rock and classical styles in his music. Born in Congo, this musician first studied piano in a catholic school in the capital Kinshasa, before being inspired by Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and The Beatles to pick up the guitar. For performances in Kinshasa’s clubs he accompanied musicians such as Tabu Ley Rochereau, Abeti and Papa Wemba at the keyboard. In 1974 he travelled across the country as Director of Zaire’s National Theatre and as talent scout, in order to record and study the music of more than 250 native ethnic groups, as well as discover new talent in preparation for the founding of the Zaire National Ballet.

A number of years later, Ray Lema founded the fusion group Ya Tupas. Due to a performance ban under Dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, Lema went to the United States in the late 1970s where he studied recording technology, also devoting himself to the mix of American music styles and for which, in 1979, he was awarded a Rockefeller Scholarship. Since the early 1980s he has lived in Europe and is currently based in Paris. Lema is primarily a pianist but is also a multi-instrumentalist, playing also drums – often in the complex diverse rhythms of his homeland, which he mixes with European harmony. His numerous albums have won him international acclaim. In addition, Lema also composes film and theatre music and major concert projects such as a show by Alain Laugenie on Arthur Rimbaud.

Joshua Weilerstein is the Artistic Director of the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, where his contract has been extended until the end of the 2020/21 season. He enjoys a flourishing guest-conducting career and has established a number of close relationships both in Europe and the USA, including the NDR Radiophilharmonie, BBC Symphony, and the New York Philharmonic, where he was assistant conductor. Joshua Weilerstein is known for his clarity of musical expression, unforced manner and natural musicianship.

In the 2019/20 season Weilerstein will return to orchestras such as Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. At the beginning of the season, he will lead the Orchestra de Chambre de Lausanne on a tour to Germany and will also make his debut with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

During his time as Assistant Conductor with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Weilerstein was actively involved in the orchestra’s Young People’s Concerts. In August 2018, he conducted a specially devised programme, ›The Sound of an Orchestra‹, for the BBC Proms which was inspired by Leonard Bernstein’s televised presentations in New York and was described as »…an exhilarating musical ride through three centuries’ worth of orchestral music to try to investigate ‚the sound of an orchestra‘.« (Bachtrack)

An advocate of easy communication between the stage and audience, Weilerstein welcomes discussion about all aspects of classical music, programming, and the experience of concert-going.