FRÉDÉRIC CHAMPION

Biography

Winner of the 2008 Canadian International Organ Competition (CIOC) held in Montreal, Frédéric Champion’s career since 1998 has seen him perform organ music of the 16^th through the 21^st centuries as a solo organist and with orchestras and choirs around the world. Recent performance venues include Chartres Cathedral (France), the Frauenkirche in Dresden (Germany), St. Thomas Church in Leipzig (Germany), Kawasaki Symphony Hall, Suntory Hall and Musashino bunka kaikan in Tokyo (Japan), and Symphony Hall in Osaka, Japan.

Born in Lyon, France, Mr. Champion studied at the Conservatoire de Région in Lyon with Louis Robilliard, at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris with Michel Bouvard, and at the Centre d’Études Musicales Supérieures (CEMS) in Toulouse with Jan Willem Jansen. Past awards in competition include First Prize at the Minoru Yoshida Tokyo Competition and Bach Prizewinner in Leipzig, both in 2004; First Prize at the International Competition Gottfried Silbermann in 2001; Second Prize at both the International Competition “Musica Antiqua” in Bruges in 2000 and the Luzern Competition in 2002; as well as Second Prize at the 2002 Concours de musique de chambre FNAPEC in Paris. Mr. Champion has been heard on Radio-France, Austrian radio stations, and Japanese TV/Radio broadcasts. Many compositions have even been dedicated to him. Following his latest victory at Montreal’s Canadian International Organ Competition, he was – and can still be – heard on Radio-Canada and CBC. These two broadcasters have aired the Frenchman’s Finals recital in Montreal’s Notre-Dame Basilica. Following his success at the CIOC 2008 – a prestigious new competition that plays an important role in recognizing and promoting the value of organ music – Mr. Champion is honored to act as its first ambassador, and is very pleased to pursue his career in North America.

Current as of April 2009