2016: Grand8 was founded.

The Grand8 ensemble is built on the foundation of musical improvisation, performing as a large ensemble without a conductor. It is a collaborative project that brings together 15 musicians, all of whom share a deep appreciation for freedom. The result is a musical ensemble that takes pleasure in the journey rather than the destination. 

What followed was a 10-year journey marked by encounters, exchanges, and creative endeavors. These were spaces and escapades dedicated to musical improvisation and, later, transdisciplinary exploration. The musical realm expanded, opening up from one movement to the next to dance and other artistic practices. In this spirit, poetry, calligraphy, and writing were invited to join the conversation.  

Today, 2026 marks the tenth anniversary of the Grand8 concept and celebrates its “unpredictable” journey.
As part of the Grand Vertige festival, the APNÉES Ensemble from Grenoble has been invited to perform a large-scale concert. 

Consistently exploring free, non-idiomatic improvisation with large ensembles, APNÉES creates immersive works—often long-form and site-specific—through the use of repurposed instruments and extended instrumental techniques, the development of a shared intuitive language, and active listening.