Sophie Rétaux

Biography

After studying music at the Conservatory of Douai, Sophie Rétaux joined the Conservatory of Lille where she completed her artistic training. She received prizes for organ, piano and accompaniment. At the same time, she met two essential and formative musicians: Jean Boyer for organ and Jean Koerner for accompaniment, both of which profoundly marked her career. The mentorship of these two musical masters (demand, humility, and didactic passion) became founding values ​​of her musical personality.
A First prize of interpretation at the international competition of Nijmegen (Netherlands/1992) and a second prize at the international competition of Toulouse (1996) allowed her to begin a concert career in France and abroad (Paris : Notre-Dame, La Madeleine, Les Blancs Manteaux, St Séverin, Basilica of St Denis..., Epernay, St Ghuilhem le Désert, Cannes, Laon, Vannes, Quimper, Toulouse, Vienna (Austria), Nijmegen (Netherlands), Echt/Azelte (Luxembourg), Brussels, etc ...) while satisfying deep-held love of chamber music, performing as much with the piano as with the organ, the harpsichord (continuo), and, for a few years, the pianoforte.
She has collaborated extensively with the Continuum ensemble (including having performed on a CD of Italian instrumental music around 1600 / Syrius) and musicians such as flautist/composer Dominique Vasseur (recording two CDs for the collection "Signature" of Radio France), violinist Philippe Couvert (concertmaster of La Grande Écurie et la Chambre du Roy), cellist Dominique Dujardin, and percussionnist Jean-Claude Gengembre (solo timpanist of the Philharmonic orchestra of Radio France).
Occasional partnering with larger ensembles (Orchestre National de Lille, Orchestre de Chambre Amadeus, Choeur de l’Opéra de Lille, Vocal Ensemble “Les Eléments”), Sophie Rétaux’s sensitivity to the musical love of non-professional musicians occasionally brings her to work with volunteer choirs.
Sophie Rétaux is titular organist of the Aristide Cavaillé-Coll organ of Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Saint Omer. It is for the promotion of exceptional instrument, a precious witness of the art and work of the famous Parisian organ builder, that she began a work of transcribing major works of the chamber or symphonic music repertoire of post-romantic and modern periods.
After having held the position of accompanist of the singing class at the Conservatoire de Lille for several years, she was appointed professor of organ in 2012 in the same institution.
She teaches organ and pianoforte at ESMD (Pôle Supérieur) in Lille, and there also leads courses that bring awareness of historical instruments to piano students.