Roger Boutry

Roger Boutry (1932–2019) was a French composer and conductor. Born in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, he resided in Paris. A virtuoso pianist, renowned and internationally recognized conductor, ingenious and elegant arranger, accomplished composer, Boutry was born of musician parents, native of Cambrai. He was admitted in 1944 to the Conservatoire de Paris where he won several first prizes. In 1954, he received prestigious Grand prix de Rome and became a finalist at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1958. In 1962, he began an international concert career in the USA, USSR, Australia, Japan, and played under the direction of the most eminent conductors: André Cluytens, Pierre Dervaux, Jean Martinon, Pierre Monteux, etc. As a conductor, he began his career with the Opéra de Monte-Carlo Orchestra, then conducted the RAI Symphony Orchestra in Rome, the Concerts Colonne, Orchestre Lamoureux, etc. Appointed a professor at the Conservatoire, he taught harmony from 1962 to 1997. His students included Claude Pichaureau, Thierry Escaich, Olivier Chassain, François Weigel, Naji Hakim, etc. In January 1973, after a competition on title, he was appointed music director of the Republican Guard and thus conducted the harmony orchestra, symphony orchestra, string orchestra and chamber music ensembles until February 1997. He died in Paris in 2019.