Kantorow, Jean-Jacques

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Kantorow, Jean-Jacques

Kantorow, Jean-Jacques, French conductor and violinist; b. Cannes, Oct. 3, 1945. Following training at the Nice Cons., he pursued studies at the Paris Cons, (premier prix in violin, 1960, and in chamber music, 1963). In 1962 he won the medal of the Carl Flesch competition in London, and also prizes in the Genoa (Paganini), Brussels (Queen Elisabeth of Belgium), Helsinki (Sibelius), Montreal, and Geneva (1965) violin competitions. He began his career as an orch. player, but soon emerged as a solo artist and chamber music player. Eventually he gave increasing attention to a conducting career. In 1985 he became music director of l’Orchestre d’Auvergne in Clermont-Ferrand, and in 1993 of l’Ensemble Orchestral de Paris.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire