Lionel Gaudin-Villard, born in 1972, is a renowned French orchestral and choral conductor celebrated for the richness of his career. After studying at the conservatories of Bayonne and Bordeaux, he won the First Prize at the Bayonne Orchestra Conducting Competition in 1998. He further honed his skills under the guidance of esteemed conductors such as Hans Graf, Michel Tranchant, Stéphane Cardon, John Nelson, and Alexander Kantorov in Bordeaux, Paris, and Saint Petersburg over two years before embarking on an international career.

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Between 2000 and 2008, he conducted various orchestras and choirs in France and abroad, notably in Vienna, Prague, Saint Petersburg, and Stockholm. He frequently collaborated with lyric companies like Figaro-ci, Figaro-là (Maryse Ghibaudo) and Les Chants de Garonne (Emmanuel Gardeil), and participated in the galas of the Friends of the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux.

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In 2008, Lionel Gaudin-Villard founded the Orchestre Symphonique de Gironde, dedicating himself to the promotion of orchestral music and the musical education of young people. The Mini Concerts, created under his direction, have reached over 750,000 spectators in 15 years, with 1,200 performances and 110 different programs, including 70 original creations.

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He has also conducted major operatic works with the lyric company Chants de Garonne, including Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni, Rossini's The Barber of Seville, and Bizet's Carmen.

Lionel Gaudin-Villard has ventured into the world of ballet in partnership with Le Jeune Ballet d'Aquitaine and the Sohrab Chitan Company, creating notable works such as *The Fairies* set to music by Purcell, *La Boîte à joujoux* based on Debussy, and Kuolema with compositions by Sibelius.

Passionate about choral singing, he has also conducted major sacred works with ensembles such as Résonances and Martenot, Syrinx, including Mozart's Requiem, Great Mass in C Minor, Coronation Mass, and Solemn Vespers of a Confessor, Schubert's Masses, Beethoven's Mass in C Major, Dvořák's Stabat Mater, Magnificat, and Mass in D Major, and Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem.

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His commitment to contemporary music is evident in his collaborations with current composers such as Bruno Alexiu, Sacha Chaban, Sally Galet, Jérémie Voin, and Jacques Ballue, resulting in numerous new creations.

Over his 30-year career, Lionel Gaudin-Villard has built a reputation as a rigorous and creative conductor, capable of captivating a wide audience. Today, he continues to develop his career while remaining dedicated to his passion for choral singing with the Ensemble Vocal Martenot, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to musical art and the transmission of his expertise. He shares his professional experiences with aspiring young conductors through courses and masterclasses and pursues his educational mission with young audiences by creating and directing numerous musical projects both in France and across Europe.