Vincent Royer

Vincent Royer

The French violist and composer Vincent Royer was born in Strasbourg. He studied in Freiburg and Cologne, performing early in various ensembles (Ensemble Köln, Ensemble Modern), dedicating himself intensely to chamber music, improvisation and to the dialogue between various art forms, music, dance and the visual arts.

Besides several fellowships, in 1991 he earned the “Prix Xenakis” for his performance of new music. Royer collaborated closely with contemporary composers including Gérard Grisey, Pascal Dusapin, Horatiu Radulescu, Luc Ferrari and Vinko Globokar.  He developed the spectral sonic language for his compositions during an artistic Residence in Banff (Canada), as fellow of the “Bourse Lavoisier” and in the electronic studio “Centre Henri Pousseur” in Liège (Belgium). Numerous composers dedicated new works to Royer and his duo, which involves the Belgian pianist Jean-Philippe Collard-Neven. Exhibiting his creativity in many different forms and aesthetics, he conceived the work Traverse for viola and computer with Gerhard Eckel, selected by the International Computer Music Conference in Berlin in 2000. His encounter with visual artists Joëlle Tuerlinckx and Bob Verschueren led to intense experimental projects. The BRAC Quartet (violin, viola, cello, double bass), which he co-founded, explores new directions of spontaneous composition.

His world premiere of the complete works for viola by Horatiu Radulescu earned worldwide recognition and received the highest award of the music journal Crescendo. In 2008-09 the Duo Royer/Collard-Neven was awarded the “Coup de Coeur” by the Académie Charles Cros for their recordings of works by Luc Ferrari and Jean-Luc Fafchamps. Royer regularly conducts seminars and workshops at European und American conservatories and universities. Since 2010 he is professor for chamber music at the Conservatoire Royal de Liège.