A Jubilee Song Benoit Chantry

At a very young age, Benoît Chantry starts attending classes at the Doornik Conservatory (Belgium) where he studies piano, violin, saxophone and percussion. He continues his percussion studies at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels, where he also attends lessons for orchestral conducting, chamber music, jazz and composition (in André Waignein's class). He composes for musical spectacles, musical theatre (amongst others for Rijsel Centre of European Culture 2004) but also arrangements for jazz and folk artists. He has a remarkable style, characterized by his attempts to combine various, often very different, styles. He very regularly conducts chamber music ensembles and symphony orchestras, at events such as the opening of the Musical Instruments Museum in Brussels. He conducted many pieces of well known composers. However, he personally favours conducting wind bands, which he has been doing since the age of 17. Currently he is the conductor of the wind band La Concorde' at Péronnes, which plays in the excellence division. Also he conducts the wind band of the Doornik Conservatory.
At this moment he is also a professor at the Doornik Conservatory as well as the Brussels Royal Conservatory. In 1999 he was awarded the Composition Prize winner at the SABAM European Jazz Contest and in 2007 he was awarded the Prize of the Music Federation of the Province of Henegouwen.