Jean Willy Kunz

Piano

Jean-Willy Kunz is the first organist in residence of the OSM. In addition to playing both with the Orchestra and in recital, he sees to the development and showcasing of the OSM's Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique installed at Maison symphonique de Montréal.

 

Jean-Willy Kunz studied organ at the Lyon conservatory with Louis Robilliard, at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal with Mireille Lagacé and then at McGill University, where he earned a doctorate with John Grew. He has been a prize-winner at a number of organ competitions, including the Chartres International Competition and the Canadian International Organ Competition in Montreal, where in 2011 he won third prize and the Richard-Bradshaw Audience Prize.

 

Jean-Willy Kunz is organist and harpsichordist with Ensemble Caprice, as well as organist with the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec. He is also conductor in residence with the Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montréal for the 2014-2015 season, alongside Christopher Jackson.

 

Jean-Willy Kunz has recorded several discs, which reflect the broad range of his musical influences: traditional music of the Balkans for saxophones and organ; two masses by Théodore Dubois for chorus and organ; 20th-century French music for harpsichord, flute and clarinet; Quebec song with Pierre Lapointe; baroque music with Ensemble Caprice; Christmas music with Marie-Josée Lord; the original score for a number of short films. He has co-written a book on German organist Helmut Walcha (Do Bentzinger, 2004) as well as an article entitled "The Organ and the View of Listening" (Presses de l'Université de Montréal, 2014).