Jean-Claude Petit

Jean-Claude Petit is from the generation of musicians who have decided to be part of the musical history of their era, ranging here from jazz to rock'n'roll, and from classical to contemporary music.   He studied music at the Paris conservatory, and at the age of ten won the medal for first prize in music theory; he later won another three first prizes (harmony, counterpoint and fugue), and that didn’t stop him from embarking on the adventure of jazz while still a teenager. He appeared at top venues around Paris as pianist-accompanist for the best American musicians of the 1960s, including Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin and Kenny Clarke.   He was drawn to writing and in 1966 started following up requests from show business, and ended up as the most highly sought after arranger. And so he has written and produced records for Julien Clerc, Serge Lama, Claude François, Mink Deville, Joan Baez, Michel Sardou, Mort Shuman, Gilbert Bécaud, and more.   He has composed songs for Marie Laforêt, Claude François, Serge Lama, Juliette Gréco, Alain Souchon, Julien Clerc, and others; musical comedies (La Révolution Française, Mayflower, 36 Front Populaire) and numerous original scores for commercials.   In parallel, he has conducted leading classical orchestras such as the London Symphony, the Munich Symphony, the Paris Opera Orchestra and the Orchestre de Paris.   Jean-Claude Petit has also produced, performed and composed jazz rock albums: - Babel (with the guitarist Philip Catherine) - The Best of All Possible Worlds (a synthesizer album).   In 1982 Jean-Claude Petit decided to move away from popular music and chose film as the medium to express his experience of the diverse range of music today.   His career as a composer of film music drew prompt recognition winning a number of awards within less than ten years (including a César, two “Victoires de la Musique”, one British Award plus various nominations for Oscars and the European Awards).   He was also composing his first symphonic works, published by Éditions Durand, and kept up a long-standing partnership with the theater, covering the full spectrum from Max Frisch to Victor Haïm, from Robert Hossein to Alfred Jarry, traveling through time and across genres.   - Member of Sacem since 1964 - Permanent membership granted in 1973 - Vice-president of the Sacem Board of Directors: 1997-1998-2001; Board member: 1995-1997 - Member of the Sacem audiovisual committee: president, 1993-1995; member, 1989-1990 - Member of the symphonic music committee: 1986-1987 - Member of the Sacem mutual insurance society - Member of SNAC union board, and of the steering committee of the pop/variety group - First prizes: Harmony, Counterpoint and Fugue (Paris Conservatory) - Grand Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros, 1978. - Prize for popular instrumental music, 1984. - “Victoires de la Musique” award (film score), 1987 and 1990. - “César” award for the best film score, 1991. - British Award for film music, 1992.