Jean-Baptiste Dupont

Biography

Jean-Baptiste Dupont enjoys as musician an international career. He performed more than 500 recitals in most of the European countries, in the USA and in Russia, in prestigious venues (Cathedrals from Paris, New York, Berlin, London, Cologne, Copenhagen, Mariinsky concert hall, Bolshoi Theatre, etc...). He has a broad repertoire ranging from the Renaissance to the present days, including many transcriptions. Jean-Baptiste Dupont has been hailed as one of the greatest young improvisers on the organ. He is a frequent guest performer at international festivals, radios, etc. As a specialist of improvisation, he’s regularly invited to give masterclasses and workshops on that field. He has been a jury member in competitions in France, USA and Germany.

Born in 1979, Jean-Baptiste Dupont began his musical studies at the piano. He discovered the organ later, at the age of 12, and began organ studies at the Institute of Sacred Music of Toulouse. He graduated with distinction from the organ department at the Conservatoire in Toulouse. As one of the top alumni of the Conservatoire, he was awarded the Francis Vidal prize by the city of Toulouse in 2006 and subsequently continued his studies at the Centre d’Etudes Supérieures de Musique et Danse in Toulouse where he obtained performing and teaching diplomas. Jean-Baptiste Dupont’s organ, improvisation, harpsichord and piano teachers included Michel Bouvard, Louis Robilliard, Philippe Lefebvre, Jan Willem Jansen and Thérèse Dussaut.

He was finalist and laureate in many organ competitions, both in interpretation and improvisation. He won the 1st prize (improvisation) in St-Albans international competition in July 2009 ; the 2nd prize, audience prize, Glinka and De Boni Arte foundations prizes in "Mikael Tariverdiev" competition in Kaliningrad, Russia, 2009 ; and the 3rd prize in “Xavier Darasse” international competition (Toulouse, France) in October 2008.

Latest releases include Widor's Symphonie No. 8 for the label audite. His work on Max Reger’s complete organ works have been acclaimed by international press and gained an international recognition, and subsequently, Jean-Baptiste Dupont was invited in several symposium and international events about the composer.

Jean-Baptiste Dupont was appointed organist at Bordeaux Cathedral after a competition which took place in April 2012. He was founder and artistic director of Cathedra (sacred music at Bordeaux Cathedral) from 2014 to 2019, and speaks up for the rebuilding of the cathedral organ.