Although pianist Jean-Philippe Collard's name is as French as his birthplace, Mareuil-sur-Ay, Champagne, his repertoire knows no geographical boundaries.
In addition to his complete mastery of French concerto literature, his interpretations of works by Bartok, Brahms, Gershwin, Haydn, Liszt, Mozart, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Strauss, and Tchaikovsky have met with great acclaim.
In addition to recitals throughout worldwide, Jean-Philippe Collard has appeared as soloist with the world's greatest orchestras, including the Zurich Tonhalle, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Minnesota Orchestras; the Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre National de Lyon; London's Philharmonia Orchestra; the Orchestra of St. Luke's; the New York, BBC, Royal, Los Angeles and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras; and the BBC, San Francisco, London, Vienna, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Boston, and Japan's NHK Symphony Orchestras.
He has collaborated with such renowned conductors as Semyon Bychkov, Marek Janowski, Eugen Jochum, Seiji Ozawa, Andre Previn, Simon Rattle and Charles Dutoit. He has also performed at the London Proms Concerts, and the Edinburgh, Aldeburgh, Bad Kissingen, Salzburg, Bath, Caramoor, Newport, and Saratoga Festivals. His recitals are eagerly-awaited events all over the world.
A prolific recording artist with more than fifty titles to his credit, Jean-Philippe Collard's discography includes the Rachmaninov Etudes-Tableaux and Brahms Hungarian Dances (with pianist Michel Beroff), both named Stereo Review's Record of the Year in their respective years ; the Ravel Concerti with Lorin Maazel and the Orchestre National de France, cited by Gramophone Magazine as Best Concerto Recording ; and the Chausson Concert, Op. 21 (with Augustin Dumay and the Muir String Quartet).
He has recorded all five Saint-Saëns Piano Concerti with Andre Previn and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the first recordings of Mozart's arrangements of the six French melodies with baritone Jose van Dam. Other recordings include a disc of Chopin Ballades and the Sonata No. 3, and a Liszt recital disc including the B minor Sonata.
His last recording is Schumann “Fantasie & Kreisleiriana”.
Born into a musical family, Mr. Collard was admitted to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris at an exceptionally young age. At sixteen he was unanimously awarded the Conservatory's First Prize, and subsequently he has won many others, including the Grand Prix du Concours National des Artistes Soloists, Prix Albert Roussel, Prix Gabriel Faure, Prix du Concours International Marguerite Long/Jacques Thibaud, and Grand Prix du Concours International Cziffra.
Jean-Philippe Collard was named Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur in January, 2003, Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres.
He is Artistic Director of l’Académie de Musique Française at Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris.
Present throughout the academies, the accompanying pianists are recruited for their technique, their knowledge of the repertoires selected by the students and their experience. They accompany the classes, but also the recorded master classes, auditions and end-of-academy concerts.