Bartu Elci-Ozsoy (Project Leader): A 21-year-old musician (conductor, violinist, composer) and European Climate Pact Ambassador, Bartu is one of three young individuals selected as a “Personnalité Amie du Comité UNICEF Île-de-France” and an Artist for the Amazon with the US-based Amazon Aid Foundation. Since 2019, he has been actively involved in community engagement projects at both national and international levels. These initiatives have connected him with renowned musicians, including the legendary Wayne Shorter, who said, “Bartu is an extraordinary human being whom we need at a time when we need people capable of doing exceptional things.” Over the past two years, Bartu has performed and led solidarity events at prestigious venues such as the UN headquarters (UNHQ), the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in an event organized by the French National Commission for UNESCO, Le Monde’s 80th Anniversary Festival, and for organizations including UNICEF, the Big Shoulders Fund, and the Boys and Girls Club of Michael Jordan. His performances have supported causes related to climate action and youth advocacy in France, Suriname, Guyana, Spain, and the US. An excerpt from Bartu’s performance at the UNHQ was shared on social media by the Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General with the caption, “A rare, and much needed, moment of pure beauty at UNHQ”.He has been invited to perform as a Climate Pact Ambassador for Prince Albert II of Monaco in October 2024, whose foundation actively supports environmental initiatives. Bartu has previously designed and implemented global artistic collaborations on themes of solidarity against discrimination, child labor, the protection of indigenous peoples in the Amazon, and environmental stewardship among youth in an art and music school in Benin. His master's thesis at the Paris Conservatoire focused on using music and the arts to address climate change, drawing on field research across 38 countries and a multilingual survey (English, French, and Spanish) completed by 346 respondents. He is the co-founder of SHARE by INOMER, a socially-driven platform, leveraging impactful science, creative expression, and collaborative innovation to inspire purposeful action and cultivate sustainable solutions. A Master’s graduate with distinction in violin from the Paris Conservatoire and in conducting from the École Normale de Musique de Paris, as well as a Carlos Miguel Prieto Conducting Fellow, Bartu is a Young Talent of the Académie Jaroussky, where he works with young musicians from disadvantaged communities.

Noémie Renouil-Hata (Environmental Science for Society), a 19-year-old student from Paris, is in her second year at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, studying Environmental Science and Engineering. Committed to addressing environmental issues through her studies, Noémie brings a global and culturally open mindset, fostered by international education, including an International Baccalaureate in Japanese and a Cambridge C2 English certification. Having previously volunteered with organizations such as UNICEF and L’Envol, she is passionate about contributing to biodiversity conservation and urban and regional planning in the face of climate change. As part of the ARISE project, Noémie is excited to combine her scientific knowledge with creative collaboration, empowering young people to take action on climate resilience and sustainability.

Soni Siecinski (Disability Inclusion and Innovation): Born with a congenital malformation of his left hand, 24-year-old Soni is a cellist and a graduate with the highest honors from the Paris Conservatoire. Defying the odds, Soni pursued his passion for music, initially drawn to the piano and trumpet before finding his calling with the cello—an instrument known for its complexity. With the help of his father, Soni developed innovative solutions to play the cello, starting by tapping his hand to the bow and later collaborating with luthiers to create a custom thermoformed glove. Supported by the Talents & Violon'celles fund, Soni developed a unique cello setup that has allowed him to thrive as a musician. Now committed to helping other musicians with disabilities, he is working on democratizing assistive technologies in the music world, shifting perceptions of disability in music as seen in adaptive sports. As part of the ARISE project, Soni brings his passion for inclusion, creativity, and resilience, using his experience to inspire young participants to overcome challenges and harness the power of music for social and environmental change.

Cassandra Teissedre (Community Engagement) is a 22-year-old violist based in Paris. Since 2022, she has been studying at the Paris  Conservatoire under Pierre-Henri Xuereb, Louis Fima, and Nicolas Bône. Cassandra has participated in prestigious international academies, including the French Connection Academy in Denmark and the Carl Flesch Academy in Germany, where she performed as a soloist with the Baden-Baden Philharmonic Orchestra. Cassandra has also collaborated with Bartu in his orchestras, notably performing at Le Monde’s 80th Anniversary Festival in a concert dedicated to climate action. Her passion for music and desire to gain new experiences abroad align with her involvement in the ARISE project, where she contributes her artistic talent to foster community engagement and inspire positive change through music.

Lukas Hadakir Carrillo (Inclusivity and Environmental Stewardship), born in southern Chile, is a 28-year-old double bassist whose passion for both baroque and modern repertoires has shaped his musical journey. He began his formal double bass studies in 2016 under Thierry Barbé, where he also discovered the viola da gamba with Marjolaine Cambon. In 2019, Lukas was admitted to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris in Nicolas Crosse’s class, continuing to explore historical bass and violin with Richard Myron. His musical experience expanded further during an Erasmus exchange at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, studying with Kati Salovaara, Maria Vahervuo, and Markku Luolajan-Mikkola. Lukas has performed in Bartu's orchestras, including at Le Monde’s 80th Anniversary Festival, dedicated to climate action. With a strong commitment to inclusiveness and environmental stewardship, Lukas actively seeks to connect diverse communities through his music. His participation in ARISE reflects his belief in the power of music to drive social and environmental impact and create inclusive and resilient communities.

Blanche Ballesta (Outreach and Engagement), originally from Cannes, is a 25-year-old cellist with a passion for creating community-driven music projects. A graduate of the Paris Conservatoire, she has performed in diverse venues, from outdoor landscapes to prestigious concert halls like the Philharmonie de Paris. Blanche co-founded the D440 Festival, which makes classical music accessible to wider audiences through innovative programming. In addition to her performance career, she is pursuing the Certificat d'Aptitude, France’s highest teaching qualification, reflecting her dedication to education. Her commitment to blending creativity, accessibility, and education aligns with her involvement in ARISE, where she uses her expertise to inspire and empower young people through collaborative music projects aimed at driving social and environmental change.

Claire Théobald (Mental Well-being), a 26-year-old violinist and a Master’s graduate of the Paris Conservatoire, discovered the power of collective art through dance and music. Passionate about ensemble performances, particularly in orchestras, she found the violin to perfectly embody everything she loves: community, collaboration, and the shared experience of music. Claire regularly performs with prestigious orchestras such as the Orchestre de Paris, the Orchestre National de Metz, and the Opéra National de Lorraine and has been invited as concertmaster by ensembles such as the Labopéra Seine-et-Marne and the Ensemble Cartésixte. Deeply committed to community engagement, she works in Insula Orchestra's “Music for our Elders” program, where she witnesses the profound connections that music can foster across generations. She also gives concerts in Paris hospitals with the ‘Hop We Care’ association. Her involvement in ARISE reflects this dedication, as Claire uses music as a tool for social connection, resilience, and empowerment, helping to inspire young people to create positive change through collaborative artistic expression.

Pierre Pradier (Creativity and Artistic Expression): Pierre is a 27-year-old Paris-based guitarist, improviser, and composer. After completing scientific studies at René Descartes University, Pierre fully dedicated himself to music at the Paris Conservatoire and the Boulogne-Billancourt Regional Conservatory, where he focused on classical and electric guitar, generative improvisation, and the integration of new technologies into composition. Deeply influenced by contemporary, free jazz, rock, and experimental music, Pierre expresses his musical voice across diverse artistic domains including performance, theatre, and video. His recent projects include collaborations with Ensemble 2e2m for the contemporary music festival Ensemble(s) dans la création and multidisciplinary projects such as Street Artand Lumen, blending music with free-running, dance, and visual arts. He also composed music for the short film "Le Foyer" by Zoé Bernardi. After a residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts (2022-2024), Pierre actively collaborated with Spanish composer Manuel Hidalgo Navas and Finnish filmmaker Nina-Maria Oförsagd. Aligned with ARISE, Pierre brings his passion for creative exploration and collaborative spirit, using music as a platform for resilience, inclusivity, and social impact.

Adrian Chassagnon-Kovmir (Communication): Born in 1998, Adrian began his violin studies at the Conservatoire de Limoges before continuing at the Conservatoire de Boulogne and later at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in Paris. He completed his Master’s degree in May 2024 and will continue his studies at the HEMU Lausanne in September. Adrian’s passion for orchestral performance has led him to play with prestigious ensembles such as the Orchestre Français des Jeunes and the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, performing in iconic venues like the Musikverein Vienna and Teatro alla Scala di Milano. His love for chamber music and commitment to collaboration align perfectly with the ARISE project, where he uses music to drive social and environmental impact through collective artistic expression.