The French violinist Jules Boucherit spent his professional life oscillating between the concert stage and the classroom, leaving behind a legacy defined by both musical instruction and humanitarian intervention. His career as a pedagogue at the Conservatoire de Paris shaped a generation of instrumentalists, while his personal conduct during the second world war earned him enduring posthumous recognition.
Musical Education and Performance
Born in Morlaix in 1877, Boucherit entered the Conservatoire de Paris to undergo formal musical training under the tutelage of Jules Garcin. As a performer, he collaborated with pianist Louis Diémer and his sister, the composer Magdeleine Boucherit Le Faure. Between 1910 and 1922, he frequently performed with Magda Tagliaferro. His recorded output consists of several 78 rpm discs.
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Boucherit returned to the Conservatoire de Paris to serve as a professor, where he instructed a vast array of students who achieved prominence in their own careers. His notable pupils included Serge Blanc, Janine Andrade, Ginette Neveu, Manuel Rosenthal, Henri Temianka, Manuel Quiroga, Ivry Gitlis, Michel Schwalbé, Devy Erlih, and Michèle Auclair. Marcel Chailley, another student, eventually served as his assistant.
Wartime Actions and Recognition
During the war, Boucherit utilized his position to protect young Jewish musicians from persecution. He hid and provided sanctuary for Serge Blanc, Devy Erlih, and his future wife, Denise Soriano. In 1993, he was awarded the Righteous Among the Nations medal for his efforts. His memoirs were published posthumously as Les Secrets du Violon: Souvenirs de Jules Boucherit (1877–1962).
Final Years
Boucherit died on 1 April 1962 in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. He was interred at the Cimetière parisien de Bagneux.
Fast facts
- Born: 1877, Morlaix
- Died: 1962, 16th arrondissement of Paris
- Occupation: Violinist and music educator
- Education: Conservatoire de Paris
- Award: Righteous Among the Nations (1993)
- Burial: Cimetière parisien de Bagneux
Questions readers ask
Which musicians did Boucherit protect during the war?
He protected Denise Soriano, Serge Blanc, and Devy Erlih.
Who were some of Boucherit's notable violin students?
His students included Ginette Neveu, Ivry Gitlis, Manuel Rosenthal, and Henri Temianka.
Achievements
- Righteous Among the Nations — 1993
- Worked as violinist and music educator
- Educated at Conservatoire de Paris
