Edith Canat de Chizy composer

Edith Canat de Chizy (born 26 March 1950) is a French composer, born in Lyon and now based in Paris. She was the first female composer to be elected a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts.

Edith Canat de Chizy was born in Lyon, and studied art, archeology and philosophy at the Sorbonne University in parallel with music at the Paris Conservatoire with Maurice Ohana - an important influence - and Ivo Malec. She continued her studies at the Paris Conservatoire, where she obtained first prizes in harmony, fugue, counterpoint, analysis, orchestration and composition. She also studied electroacoustics and worked with Guy Reibel at the Groupe de Recherches Musicales. Her instrument is the violin, and she has written extensively for string instruments.

After completing her studies, Canat de Chizy worked as a music educator, becoming the director of the Erik Satie conservatory in the 7th arrondissement of Paris until 2006 when she joined the staff of the Regional Conservatory of Paris (CRR de Paris) where she teaches composition. She was elected a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts of Paris in 2005.

Many of her works are state commissions, written for ensembles including the virtuoso vocal ensemble Musicatreize directed by Roland Hayrabedian,IRCAM, French Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and the national orchestras based in Paris and Lyon. Her music is published by Editions Henry Lemoine.