Apolline – a place to grow and cultivate your passion
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Apolline is an art school like no other: here, every child can flourish while developing their creativity, through high-quality artistic instruction combined with a family-like atmosphere.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple: to offer every child an environment where art allows them to blossom fully. Whatever the artistic field — music, visual arts, theater, musical theater or dance — we help each student gain confidence, express their emotions, and grow by developing their own personality.
Our Vision
We believe in rigor without rigidity, and in enjoyment without superficiality. Apolline brings together the best of a conservatory and a leisure workshop: the excellence of structured artistic instruction, with the warmth and flexibility of a human-sized school. Our vision: that each child can nurture their artistic passion at their own pace, with a smile.
Our Values
- Creative freedom – Each child chooses their own universe (music pieces, drawing style, theater roles) and moves forward according to their passions. We make room for everyone’s imagination.
- Personalized guidance – Our teachers individually guide each student. Everyone progresses at their own pace, thanks to tailor-made support that values progress over pure performance.
- Creativity – Inventiveness is at the heart of our classes. Composing, improvising, experimenting... our students dare to create and develop their own style.
- Humanity & Kindness – A school with a human touch. Our instructors, selected as much for their human qualities as for their artistic talents, create a climate of trust where every child feels heard, respected, and encouraged.
Our Approach
So how do we put these values into action? Through a unique teaching approach: freedom within structure and hands-on projects. Each student chooses the projects they are passionate about, and our teachers chart a tailored technical path for them. This combination of fun and structure allows the child to go further than they would have imagined. We especially encourage the realization of personal projects: recording a song in a studio, creating a drawing exhibition, getting on stage… These are all experiences that give learning meaning and instill pride in the child and their family. And if a student prefers to practice just for fun without performing in public, that’s perfectly fine too — the important thing is that they enjoy themselves and make progress!
They did it with Apolline
Lucas, 12 years old, published his own comic book thanks to the support of his drawing teacher. (See his story)
Nina, 15 years old, recorded in a studio the song she composed in music class.
Emma, 10 years old, gained enough confidence to sing on the stage of a major television show.
Our Offer at a Glance
Disciplines: Music (guitar, piano, singing, drums, etc.), Visual Arts (drawing, painting, manga, comics…), Theater & Musical Theater.
Age: Children and teens from age 4 (and workshops for adults also available in some disciplines like music and visual arts).
Locations: 8 branches in French-speaking Switzerland (Lausanne, Geneva, etc. – see all our addresses).
Formats: Weekly classes, workshops and vacation camps, special workshops, annual events and a festival (performances, exhibitions, Apolline Fest…).
Testimonials
“Excellent school! The teachers are caring, competent and available. My daughter has taken three manga drawing workshops and each time she comes away delighted and proud of her progress.” – Mélanie B., mother of a student (Google review, 2022)
“A great end-of-year show! Bravo to the children and teachers for this magical moment, you can see how much each one has grown in confidence. Let’s do it again next year.” – Elżbieta M., mother (Google review, 2024)
The Apolline Team
Cédric Maillard – Director, Co-founder & Teacher
"Welcome to Apolline! I co-founded this school with the conviction that every young artist deserves support that is both demanding and caring. Our greatest pride is seeing our students grow, gain confidence in themselves, and flourish through their artistic projects.” – Cédric
Co-founder of the school, Cédric is convinced that every young artist deserves guidance that is as demanding as it is caring. With 15 years of experience in music education and training in human-centered approaches such as emotional intelligence, nonviolent communication (NVC©) and individual coaching, he ensures that Apolline is a place where students, parents, and teachers form a creative community that grows together in trust.
Alcindo – Co-founder, Marketing & Web
Alcindo makes sure that Apolline’s spirit shines beyond the school walls. A father of two, he understands the expectations of families: he is committed to facilitating their interactions with the school. He orchestrates Apolline’s online and social media presence, ensuring that parents have clear information and sharing the wonderful moments experienced by our students.
Anna – Executive Assistant & Administration
The warm voice on the phone is often hers! Anna manages all the administration with diligence and kindness. Enrollment, schedules, practical questions... she supports parents in the daily life of the school, always listening to help and find solutions.
Natacha – Communications Manager
Passionate about connecting with people, Natacha is the conductor of Apolline’s communications. She prepares news, announcements and newsletters with enthusiasm, so that parents and students don’t miss anything about the life of the school. Her goal: to maintain the bond with families and showcase our young artists’ adventures throughout the year.
Laurène – Visual Arts Events Manager & Instructor
Laurène organizes artistic events throughout the year around drawing, painting, or visual theater. Exhibitions, special workshops… her creativity and energy offer students unique opportunities to show their talents. A visual arts teacher herself, she loves to see “her” budding artists shine under the proud eyes of their parents.
Sandrina – Music Events Manager, ApollineFest & Instructor
Sandrina leads Apolline’s musical events. Concerts, recitals and of course the unforgettable end-of-year ApollineFest — she coordinates everything to highlight the work of our young musicians. Also a singing teacher, Sandrina loves to create those magical moments where each child takes the stage with confidence, in front of their family and friends.
A team of passionate teachers
Our instructors are both experienced artists and caring educators. Musicians, illustrators, actors... they all share Apolline’s philosophy: putting the child at the center and encouraging them to give their best. Each teacher guides their students with patience and enthusiasm, from the first class to the end-of-year presentations.
→ Discover the full team
Contact & Practical Information
Visit us at our offices: Apolline School of Arts – Route de Pallatex 5, 1163 Etoy – on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9am-12pm / 2pm-5pm; Wednesday & Friday 9am-12pm.
Téléphone : +41 21 651 09 99 – Email : [email protected] – Enrollment : Online form – Rates : See our rates