Top 5: world famous Luxembourgers

His repertoire includes baroque and contemporary music: he composes, produces and records both dance pieces and the complete piano repertoire of Johann Sebastian Bach. Since completing his studies at Juilliard School in New York, he has been fascinated by the flawless beauty of Bach and the rhythmic pulse of techno. He combines the two styles in the concept of "piano 2.0" where the instrument achieves a new textural expression through digital technology.

Francesco Tristano crafts his albums from personal experiences, which are told through the sensitivity and tonal richness of the piano. For him, music is a form of expression that has no limits in terms of style and time.

Today, this internationally renowned concert pianist collaborates with Sony Classical in order to release his music and still travels the world as both a pianist and an electronic artist. 

Jules Hoffmann was born in Echternach. in 1941. His father was an entomologist and professor, and opened his eyes to the world of insects and nurtured his interest in biology. In 1959, at the age of 18, he published his first article on the aquatic heteropterans of Luxembourg in the Archives de l'Institut Grand-ducal de Luxembourg, Section des sciences naturelles, physiques et mathématiques. He continued his studies at the University of Strasbourg, where he received a doctorate in experimental biology.

In 1964, he joined the CNRS - Centre national de la recherche scientifique where he created and directed the laboratory Immune response and development in insects.

In 1970, Jules Hoffmann adopted French nationality, a difficult decision at the time but one that was vital in order to pursue a research career. It allowed him to obtain the CNRS gold medal, the highest scientific research award in France.

A key characteristic of their design process is the voluntary integration of the parameters and states of transformation of the materials during the manufacturing process, i.e. the creative experience and unexpected outcomes form an integral part of their design concept. This "technique" was awarded with the Luxembourg Design Award 2017, in the product design category, for their "Couleurs-sur-Sûre" textile, crafted in cooperation with the Duchfabrik of the Naturpark Öewersauer. The blankets are made from regional wool that has been dyed with mostly regional plants and woven in the Duchfabrik.

Vases and other decorative items are always finished in cooperation with local craftsmen.

Through their designs, Sarah and Laura aim to share their experience, skills and sensibility with the user, as well as a sense of responsibility for their products.

In 1998, Martine Dennewald visited the Avignon Festival with her mother. This was the moment she realised what she wanted to do with her life: support artists and become the driving force which holds everything together behind the scenes. She studied dramaturgy in Leipzig and completed her Masters in cultural management in London. As no university offers studies in "how to run a festival", Martine learnt through experience.

Born in 1980, she directed the Theaterformen international festival which alternates between Hannover and Brunswick in Germany from 2015 to 2020. Prior to that, she worked as a programming director at the Künstlerhaus Mousonturm in Frankfurt and at the "Young Directors Project" of the Salzburg Festival.

In summer 2021, she begins collaborating with Jessie Mill, the co-artistic director of the TransAmériques Festival in Montreal, an international dance and theatre festival. The 16th edition of the festival in 2022, which marks their first collaboration, offers a vibrant and international programme in which artists from 18 countries join local dance and theatre groups. Martine Dennewald and Jessie Mill are committed to promoting works based on dialogue, sharing and open-mindedness.

But football was not his first passion. At the age of two, he would pick up a ball and put it in every basket he found. His father, Patrick Johanns, a basketball player in Luxembourg believed that his son would follow in his footsteps. When the Grand Duchy's national basketball team asked him to join them for the European U16 and U20 championships, he declined as American football already held him firmly in its grasp! Friends convinced Damon to try out for the local high school team, Helias Catholic High School - Jefferson City, and he soon caught the eye of the team's trainers.

Despite missing two games through injury, Damon played a key role in the 2020 State Championship. His team, the Crusaders, ended the season unbeaten, with 505 yards and eight touchdowns. Subsequently, the trainer of the Missouri Tigers, a key player in college sports, sent Damon a message to say he had a place for him in the team. It was a dream come true and Damon announced his arrival at Mizzou on 2 February 2021.