Kylian Mbappé spent five years studying solfege, choir, and the transverse flute at the conservatory in Bondy, according to accounts from his childhood teachers. The 27-year-old French international balanced sports with musical arts as part of an intentional effort by his parents to broaden his education beyond athletics.
Early Years at the Bondy Conservatory
Between the ages of six and eleven, Mbappé attended the local conservatory in his hometown of Bondy, a Parisian suburb with a population of just over 53,000. According to former teacher Céline Bognini in an interview with El Mundo, the young student possessed an undeniable spark. “Tenía algo extraordinario, en el sentido estricto de la palabra ‘extra’ y ‘ordinario’; algo fuera de lo común,” Bognini recalled.
Bognini, who also directed the conservatory choir and organized public performances in the municipal park, noted in Le Parisien that Mbappé was an energetic child. Among her vivid memories of those years is a performance of the Serge Gainsbourg song “Couleur café,” where the future sports star stood out for his dynamic temperament. In his earliest musical steps, Mbappé played a piccolo because his arms were still too small to comfortably manage a full-sized transverse flute, a detail explained by teacher Françoise Ducos in Martin Leprince’s 2019 research book Rendez-vous avec l’éternité.
Academic Adaptability and Intellectual Curiosity
Educators who guided Mbappé through his primary school years observed unique intellectual capabilities alongside his athletic ambitions. Yannick Saint-Aubert, who served as his school director from first through fifth grade, told Le Parisien that the student displayed above-average intelligence. “Era superdotado. Pero a veces se evadía en sus ensoñaciones y sus sueños de fútbol,” Saint-Aubert noted, explaining that teachers adapted their working methods in close collaboration with the player’s parents.
Later, during his time in sixth and seventh grade at ages 11 and 12, French teacher and tutor Nicole Lefebvre described him as a quick-witted, humorous student with strong academic results. According to Lefebvre, his exceptional mental agility and natural leadership within the classroom left a strong impression on the faculty.
Expanding Horizons Beyond Football
Mbappé himself has frequently highlighted the rationale behind his diverse upbringing. During a conversation with television host James Corden, the footballer acknowledged that his parents actively encouraged him to explore multiple disciplines. “Mis padres querían que hiciera muchas cosas, que explorara, que abriera mi mente a cosas diferentes,” Mbappé explained.
While his formal music education did not lead to a professional career in the arts, the years spent learning music theory, singing in choirs, and studying wind instruments formed a cornerstone of a childhood intentionally designed to look past the boundaries of the sports pitch.
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