Michel Bouvard

Michel Bouvard (Lyon, 1958) is a French organist.

Bouvard inherited his love of music from his grandfather Jean Bouvard, organist and composer. He studied organ with Suzanne Chaisemartin and André Isoir at the Paris Conservatoire. He completed his training with the organists of Saint-Séverin: Michel Chapuis, Francis Chapelet and Jean Boyer. He himself became titular organist of this organ and held the position for ten years.
In 1983 he won First Prize at the international competition in Toulouse. In 1985 he became a teacher at the regional Conservatoire of Toulouse, succeeding Xavier Darasse. He later also became organ teacher at the city's higher music school. In 1994 he became director of the new organ and keyboard instruments department at the Conservatoire National of Toulouse. In 1995 he became organ and interpretation teacher at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, together with Olivier Latry.
Since 1996 he has been titular organist of the Cavaillé-Coll organ in the Basilique Saint-Sernin de Toulouse and since 2010 he has been co-titular organist of the organ in the chapel of the Castle of Versailles.
He is also artistic director of the Festival 'Toulouse les Orgues' and of the international organ competition associated with it. He was a jury member in 2000 and 2006 for the international competition in Brugge, in the context of the Festival Musica Antiqua.