Christophe Looten

Christophe Looten (born 5 April 1958) is a French composer. Born in Bergues, he was made Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in January 2000. Biography Looten has been composing since the age of seven, when he began to study music with the local organist. A student of the École du Louvre, he graduated from the Conservatoire de Paris. Having won numerous prizes, he began a career as teacher, and was appointed professor of musical analysis and history at the Regional Conservatoire of Limoges, as well as conducting a course in aesthetics at the city’s University. Made Pensionnaire de l’État in 1987, he spent two years in residence at the Casa de Velázquez in Madrid. After his stay in Spain, he was awarded the Bourse Lavoisier, a grant that enabled him to go to the United States, where he obtained several fellowships. As composer in residence at Wellesley University in 1991, he won both the Prix Alea and the Prize for Composition of Besançon for his Third String Quartet. Returning to France, he decided to devote himself entirely to composing, and went on to receive various prizes (SACEM, Jolivet, etc.). He was several times invited as composer in residence at the Round Top Festival Insti