Jean-Willy Kunz
Jean-Willy began his piano and organ studies with Joseph Coppey at the Grenoble Conservatory (France). In 1992 he entered the organ class of Louis Robilliard at the Lyon Conservatory and was awarded the gold medal with unanimous consent of the jury in 1998. In the following years, he undertook studies in jazz-piano with Mario Stantchev at the Lyon Conservatory and formed a saxophone and organ duo with Frédéric Lagoutte. The research completed by Jean-Willy Kunz and Joseph Coppey on the German organist Helmut Walcha led to their book “Helmut Walcha, Nuit de lumière”, published in 2005 by editions Jérôme Do Bentzinger (Colmar, France).
Now 29, Jean-Willy Kunz studied organ and harpsichord for three years with Mireille Lagacé at the Conservatory of Music of Montreal where he obtained Prizes in organ, harpsichord, harmonie and counterpoint. He is currently pursuing doctoral studies in organ at the University of McGill with John Grew.
Jean-Willy is harpsichordist with the ensemble Allogène, a chamber music group formed of current and former students of the Montreal Conservatory. Comprising anywhere from two to seven members depending on the program, Allogène’s concerts offer the public lesser known repertoire ranging from baroque to contemporary music.
Jean-Willy Kunz was winner of the 2004 Lynnwood Farnum organ competition and second prize winner at the international organ competition “Grand Prix de Chartres” in 2008.