Vincent Beer Demander, mandolinist and music teacher from Les Minots de Marseille, receives the first Barbizet prize

At the Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts of Marseille, the name of Vincent Beer Demander resonates. He is one of the greatest mandolinists of the century and has just received the very first Barbizet prize at the Palais du Pharo.

If we had one day told Vincent Beer Demander, one of the greatest mandolinists of the 21st century, that he would receive the first Barbizet prize from the Marseille Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts, there would never have been believed.

It was in 2005 that Vincent Beer Demander settled in the Marseille city. Since then, it has given itself the noble mission of providing access to culture to as many children from working-class neighborhoods as possible.

So when he was invited to the Palais du Pharo to collect his reward, it was only natural that he was accompanied by one of them. Without a doubt, the 34 academicians who named him the winner were not mistaken.

Reconquer Marseille

The musician is dedicated. He invests all his time in caressing the strings, creating melodies and revisiting the eras of this rhythmic, nostalgic and sunny instrument: the mandolin. When he arrived in Marseille, he dreamed of rediscovering the city’s love story with this instrument. A mandolin orchestra has existed, per neighborhood and per arrondissement, since the 18th century, even going through the world wars. Disillusionment. He noticed that children from isolated cities did not have access to this culture and took the decision to create the first Mandolin Orchestra of the Minots of Marseille.

Far from confining himself, Vincent Béer Demander sets out to meet families in the northern neighborhoods. He wants to pass on his passion for the mandolin and does so through a funny teaching method: kangaroos, ducks, a whole association of animals with musical genres, which quickly seduce the little people of Marseille.

“The mandolin may not save the world, but it is undeniable that it contributes to broadening access to culture for all.”

Vincent Beer Ask

mandolinist

Since then, every Saturday morning, the little mandolinists meet at the Pierre Barbizet Conservatory, famous Marseille pianist.

“Today, we are resurrecting with the children of all these neighborhoods, this golden era, this blessed era of the mandolin.” declares Vincent BD A bet won.

Vincent Beer Demander, continues his fight and his concerts, surrounded by his company VBD.