The Poitiers based Orchestre de Chambre Nouvelle-Aquitaine has appointed cellist Raphaël Merlin as Artistic Director of from January 2026. He will replace Jean-François Heisser, who has been at the helm of the orchestra for 25 years.

A cellist, chamber musician (with the Quatuor Ebène), composer and teacher, Raphaël Merlin has also been artistic and musical director of the Orchestre de Chambre de Genève since the 2023/2024 season.