Jean-Philippe Collard is a renowned French pianist who is known for his interpretations of the works of Gabriel Faur� and Camille Saint-Sa�ns. Born into a musical family, he started playing the piano at age five. In 1960 he traveled to Berlin having been sent by the Jeunesses-Musicales to compete in the International Competition for young pianists. At 16 he won First Prize at the Paris Conservatory of Music. He also is a winner of the Gabriel Faur� Award. He has a First Prize from the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition. He was awarded the Albert Roussel Award and won the Cziffra International Competition. In 1973 he played his recital debut in Paris at the Th��tre des Champs-�lys�es. Critics in Paris were very enthusiastic. "He has all the right qualities which make him a musician of the highest order; his technique, his sensibility are like the flower of virtuosity" -- Le Figaro, February, 1973. He is considered one of the greatest exponents of the French school. He made his American debut in 1973 with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Seiji Ozawa, and praise from the San Francisco Chronicle was high. [More at Wikipedia]

January 27th, 1948 in Mareuil-sur-Ay (Age 76)