Florent DIDIER is part of this new generation of musicians who are open to different aesthetics and orchestral formations. A sensitive, passionate and complete conductor, he collaborates with symphony orchestras, choirs, brass bands, wind bands, and multifaceted ensembles, reaching out to all audiences.
Prize winner of the prestigious international competition « British Open » at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham in 2017 (French premiere), he was selected by Atso Almila (Sibelius Academy) for the final stages of the International Conducting Competition in Augsburg, Germany. He also led the Paris Brass Band, as Musical Director between 2008 and 2020, to 6 French Championship titles and to the title of European Brass Band Vice Champion (Montreux 2019, French premiere). He is also winner of the Oslo Brass festival in 2023, and he is the 2023 and 2024 Norwegian National Champion with Eikanger-Bjørsvik (French premiere). He clinched a 3rd prize at the 2024 EBBC international competition and a 2nd prize at the Swiss Open international competition (Lucerne, 2023, French premiere).
In his desire to develop his career as a conductor towards the direction of contemporary ensembles and symphonic formations, he leads the ensemble Ars Nova as part of a minimalist music program at the festival ”Images Sonores”, the 2e2m Ensemble that he conducts in recordings and concerts at Radio France for France Musique, at the Studio de l’Ermitage, at the Paris CRR… The Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse, the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and becomes artistic director of the Metalak Euskal Herrian ensemble. He also assists François-Xavier Roth with the Gürzenich Orchester Köln in a Schumann – Poppe programme which has resulted in a recording under the Myrios Classics label.
Invited by various formations, Florent DIDIER regularly conducts on major international stages, including the Royal Albert Hall, the Birmingham Symphony Hall, the Philharmonie de Paris, the Auditorium de Radio France, the Oslo Konserthus, the Bergen Grieghallen, the Montreux Stravinsky Auditorium, the KKL Lucerne, the Perth Concert Hall, the Tokyo Hiratsuka Hall, the Nouveau Siècle-Lille and the Malmö Konserthus. He also participates in many festivals in France and abroad such as the Festival de St Denis, the Festival de la Chaise Dieu, the Festival Ravel or the Festival Cervantino in Mexico.
Starting as a trombone player, he holds two Diplomas of Higher Education, got a Master’s degree in Musicology, a Certificate of Competence, the Professor of art education contest, as well as a Master’s degree in Pedagogy and Music teaching, diplomas that conclude his many courses of study at the University of Reims and the Conservatoires Nationaux Supérieurs de Musique et de Danse (CNSMD) both in Paris and in Lyon. His research in the field of early music and his singular training as a musician allow him to connect all repertoires, and to approach contemporary creations with open mind and originality. He offers attractive and original programmes, which have already convinced many programmers such as the Interceltic Festival, the Opera Garnier, the University of Bergen, Radio France or the Aix en Provence Festival.
Very attached to the training of young musicians, he elaborates the various training programs of the Orchestras and Conducting classes at the Creteil Regional Conservatory, and leads the Maitrise of Radio France during the premiere of «Ecce Homo, Ecce» by Olivier Calmel. He’s also the resident conductor of the Philharmonie de Paris Démos Orchestra. Internationally, he conducts the 2022 session of the European Youth Brass Band (Birmingham), an orchestral session at the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester) in 2023, and the Nationalen Jugend Brass Band der Schweiz as well as the Bergen Philharmonic Youth Orchestra in 2024.
Requested by several international summer academies, he trains future professional musicians in orchestral section and conducting. He also regularly gives masterclasses or acts as a jury for national and international competitions.
Florent DIDIER contributes to many and various recordings including Hypercube and a Live from Taiwan with the Paris Brass Band, an album dedicated to Fineberg and Murail recorded at the Ircam… He arranges for strings and choirs (Tryo, Clarika at the Estival de St Germain), for brass (Ryan Leslie at the Cabaret Sauvage), and share the stage with artists such as Michel Legrand, Vladimir Cosma, Vincent Delerm, Yaël Naïm, Ibrahim Maalouf, Juliette… in studio sessions or at the Victoires de la Musique, Taratata, Mogador, Olympia…
During the summer 2021, Florent DIDIER was honoured with the title Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres, a distinction awarded by the French Minister of Culture.