Jean-Marc Fessard graduated from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, with a first prize in clarinet, bass clarinet and chamber music.
In 1990, he was awarded the first prize in the Jacques Lancelot Competition.
He was selected to represent France at the International Clarinet Congress in Phoenix (U-S-A) in 1995.
Jean-Marc Fessard has also been a prize-winner in several international chamber music competitions: Paris in 1996, Illzach (France) and Gdansk (Poland) in 1997.
Since 1998, he regularly performs abroad, both in recitals and as a soloist with the Philharmonic Orchestras of Szczecin, Gdansk, Zielona-Gora, Poznan, Bakou, , Minsk, Vilnius, Prague Chamber Orchestra, etc.
On several occasions he was invited to play for the Polish TV channels (TV Polonia, TVP 1, TVP 3), for the polish radio, and for the French radio “France-Musiques”.
He teachs regularly at the Gdansk Academy of Music, and gives master-class for the “International Music Academy”, Azerbaïdjan National Conservatory.
He is Jury member of the Brahms International Chamber Music Competition in Gdansk (Poland).
He premiered the clarinet concertos from Piotr Moss, Jacques Bondon and Bruno Letort. Presently, he prepares the recordings from Schumann chamber music for clarinet and Alexandre Tansman pieces for clarinet. Piotr Moss ask him to record his complete music for clarinet.
As a musicologist, he also graduated from Paris University (Master’s degree). He prepares presently a book about the “Clarinet evolution” (April 2006), and works as “collection director” for the French editor “Editions Delatour”. He was leader of Piotr Moss music recording for the Radio-France label “Signature”. Presently, he teachs in Bruxelles Royal Conservatory.
Discography
“Sonates françaises pour clarinette et piano”, St-Saëns, Castérède, Koechlin, Poulenc, Dux 0195 (Varsovie, Poland)
“Concertos pour clarinette et orchestre” from Jacques Bondon & Henri Tomasi, Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra conducting by J.M Florencio Junior, Dux 0397
“Quartet for the end of Time” from Olivier Messiaen, Dux 0459 (December 2004)
“12 Fantaisies” for clarinet solo from Telemann, Delatour (March 2006)
“Trio Américain” from Thierry Escaich, Accord-Universal (June 2006)
“Philippe Hersant” (complete Duets for bass clarinet and viola, piece for solo clarinet), Triton (September 2006)
“Piotr Moss”, Radio-France label “Signature”, distributed by Harmonia Mundi (January 2005)
“Colette, Dialogue de Bêtes », Novaprod (September 2004)
“It’s wonderful ! Musicality, technique, emotion, precision, wit. One thousand bravos. It’s simply wonderful !” (Yvonne Loriod-Messiaen, about the CD “Quartet for the end ot Time”, December 2004)
“Lightly and leaping, Poznan orchestra and Jean-Marc Fessard excel in making these sunny Provençal pages more brilliant.” (Jérôme Bastianelli, about the CD “Concertos pour clarinette...”, Diapason, March 2004)
“Jean-Marc Fessard, sensitive musician, unrivalled technician, distils a dreamy atmosphere. Everywhere sensuality reigns as a master.” (Mathias Heizmann, about the CD “Concertos pour clarinette...”, Arte, January 2004)
“Superb technique with an amazing musicality and complete understanding of this music.” (Magdalena Wawszkiewicz, about “Concertos pour clarinette...”, Audio-Video, September 2003)
« It’will be difficult to forget the clarinet sound growing from the silence in the night like a suffering cry... » (Claude Toulet, about « Quartet for the end of Time », l’Echo de la Haute Vienne, July 02)
“...These two musicians take us to realm of taste and good manners. Their controlled interpretation fully acknowledges the quality of the pieces, as their detached view of things reveal their high class.” (Philippe Simon, about the CD “French sonatas”, Répertoire, November 2001)
“...Superb clarinet: a beautiful palette of colors and a subtle sense of phrasing...Fessard’s elegantly virtuosic playing swings, ricochets and seduces.” (Karol Beffa, about the CD “French sonatas”, Classica, July-August 2001)
“...A profond understanding of this music, especially remarkable in the Sonata of Francis Poulenc, of which this is one of the most lively and moving versions.” (Jean Roy, about the CD « French sonatas », Le Monde de la Musique, April 2001)
“ ...I am amazed by your interpretation. Musically speaking, you have perfectly mastered the piece and your impressive clarinet technique gives it a depth which delightfully struck me. I believe your interpretation will serve as an example to be followed by those who will want to play my sonata!” (Jacques Castérède, about his Sonata, 30.12.2000)
“...I consider myself very lucky to have had the chance to work with such a talented soloist. His rare musical sensibility, his bright virtuosity, the beauty of his nuanced tone make me see him as the most convincing and the most efficient defender of my concerto.” (Jacques Bondon, about his “Concerto des Offrandes”, January 2000)
« ...Before the concert, rumors announced the clarinetist Jean-Marc Fessard as an excellent musician, which was confirmed during the concert, where his playing demonstrated a perfect technique and a very limpid sound. The artist understood the spirit of Mozart very well... » (Anna Podkanska, Glos Szczecinski 8.6.99)
« ...The technique of the clarinetist, as well as his musical qualities, were admirable. He showed wide dynamic range, beginning with a barely audible, subtle piano, increasing to a startlingly intense forte. The sudden changes in character and atmosphere were also striking, as the Sonata of Jacques Casterede where, after a virtuoso Scherzo, the artist carried us through intense emotions in the Elegy ; in the Sonata of Francis Poulenc, the humor of the Allegro con fuoco exploded after a romance of a great lyrical calm... » (Roman Kraszewski, Glos Szczecinski 10.3.99)
« ...The soloist, Jean-Marc Fessard played with beautiful colors and a extraordinary technique... » (Malgorzata Pruska, Nowy Kurier 18.3.99)
« THE CLARINET OF A MAGICIAN : ...The evening’s program was most attractive and the soloist very interesting. For the music lovers of Poznan, he performed two concertos : K.622 of Mozart and the « Concerto des Offrandes » of Jacques Bondon. In the Mozart concerto, the soloist showed the entire lyrical and technical range of the clarinet. The audience enjoyed the beautiful sonority, an extraordinary control over the sound production, a great poise, and an admirable technique. He displayed the same qualities in the world premiere of the Jacques Bondon work ... (Andrzej Chylewski, Glos Wielkopolski 6/7.11.99)
« ...The outstanding performer who premiered the concerto of Jacques Bondon was Jean-Marc Fessard who combined a magnificent sound with an extraordinary technique. The melodic phrases which he outlined with great musicality were of a rare beauty... » (Tadeusz Szantruczek, Gazeta Poznanska 8.11.99)
