Gaëtan – Musician, Author, and Stage Performer for Children
Born in Geneva, Gaëtan discovered music at the age of six at the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze, while also studying piano at the Geneva Conservatory of Music. He later trained in jazz drumming at the Conservatoire Populaire de Musique under Raoul Esmerode, performing in blues-rock bands and taking classical singing lessons.
In June 2000, he earned a degree in music education from the Geneva University of Music, specializing in pedagogy, harmony, and teaching. He was awarded the Bernheim Prize for best student of his class. In 2001, he published his first book-CD for children, 37 chansons courtes pour petits et grands, with L’Oreille publishing. Many more albums for children followed: Parler à la lune (2004), Martin la Chance (2008), Les chocottes (2012), Zingoingoin (2015), Chope la banane (2018), Le Noël de Gaëtan (2020), and Les plus belles chansons de Gaëtan (2021, AUZOU editions). He collaborated with artists such as Sanseverino, Yann Lambiel, Dominique Fillon, Alain Morisod, Jean-François Berger, and others. The books are illustrated by Pierre Cendors and recommended by the Swiss public education authorities.
Since 2004, Gaëtan has toured in Switzerland, France, and Haiti. In 2014, he celebrated 10 years on stage at the Lausanne Opera. In 2016, his songs were orchestrated for a symphonic concert with 130 choristers and musicians (Symphoniquement Gaëtan). Since 2018, he has regularly performed his solo show Gaëtan, ses comptines de OUF ! in Paris. In 2021, he marked 20 years of his career.
In parallel, he hosted his own radio show on LFM in 2019, giving children a voice. Since 2021, he has been presenting a weekly children’s program every Sunday morning on RTS1.
Gaëtan’s favorite…
Film
- The Nightmare before Christmas – Tim Burton (1993)
- Succession – Jesse Armstrong (2018)
- Astérix et Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre – Alain Chabat (2002)
Music
- Gran Torino – Jamie Cullum (2009)
- Driver – Joya Marleen (2021)
- Second Nature – Bon Iver (2021)
TV programme
- Diane et Gaëtan, c’est maintenant (RTS1)