Christian JOYEUX

Christian JOYEUX, born in 1956, is a professor at the CRR of Metz-Métropole, solo saxophonist with the Orchestre National de Lorraine, and artistic director of the ensemble ART’SAX.

He is also a founding member of the saxophone quartet SAX4 and a pedagogical tutor at the CEFEDEM of Lorraine.

He began the saxophone in 1963, at the age of 7, at the Harmonie Municipale de Jarny under the direction of Pierre Farcy.

In 1969, he entered the Conservatoire of Metz, where he won several first prizes (saxophone, solfège, sight-reading, chamber music).

In 1975, he joined the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris in the class of Daniel Deffayet and obtained in 1979 the First Prize in Saxophone, followed in 1980 by the First Prize in Chamber Music (class of Christian Lardé).

In 1981, he became assistant at the CRR of Metz.

A State Graduate (1986) and holder of the Certificat d’Aptitude (1989), he succeeded Hubert Prati as professor of saxophone.

Between 1987 and 2001, he directed the École Municipale de Musique and the Harmonie de Jarny.

An accomplished saxophonist, he collaborates with prestigious orchestras: Orchestre National de Radio France, Orchestre Symphonique et Lyrique de Nancy, Saarländischer Rundfunk (Saarbrücken), Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Frankfurt, under the direction of conductors such as Seiji Ozawa, Emmanuel Krivine, Marc Soustrot, or Michel Tabachnik.

As a chamber musician, he participates in numerous ensembles (Quatuor Da Camera, Quatuor Jean Ledieu, SAX4, Octuor ART’SAX) and also explores jazz within groups such as Thesis, Big Band Jazz Swingers, or Favorite Thing.

Deeply involved in contemporary creation, he collaborates with prestigious festivals and institutions (Festival de Metz, Festival de Lille, IRCAM) and has realized numerous premieres for solo saxophone, electroacoustic music, organ, piano, or wind orchestra.