Marie-Louise Langlais

Born in Casablanca (Marocco) in 1943, Marie-Louise Jaquet began studying music at a very young age.
Her first degree was a Master in Law from the University of Strasbourg (1965). She then moved to Paris and became a member of the organ class of Jean Langlais at the Schola Cantorum. There, she received the Virtuosity Diploma for both organ and improvisation in 1969 and was appointed organist at the Silbermann Organ in Mulhouse (Alsace). Later, she was named professor of organ at the Marseille Conservatory (1973).

In 1979, she married Jean Langlais and served as her assistant at the Basilica of Sainte-Clotilde in Paris, the famous organ of César Franck.
In 1985 she was appointed professor at the Paris Schola Cantorum, and since 1988 she serves as professor for organ and improvisation at the Paris Superior Conservatory (CNR).

Madame Langlais received her Doctor of Musicology degree from the Paris Sorbonne in 1992. Her three volume dissertation was on the life and complete works of her husband. In 1995 she published parts of this dissertation in a book titled 'Ombre et Lumière - Jean Langlais (1907-1991)' (published by Editions Combre, Paris), which obtained in 1999 the special award 'Prix de l'Institut de France'. She has toured extensively throughout the world, especially in North Europe and The United States of America, has been member of several international organ competitions jurys and has recorded for Festivo, Motette, Solstice, Lyrinx, Arion and Koch International.

As a lecturer, she is in great demand for her expertise on french organ music and especially on the Sainte Clotilde tradition (César Franck, Charles Tournemire and Jean Langlais), subject on what she wrote numerous articles in american and european magazines.
Pianist and organist, Sylvie Mallet tought first in her native city, Angoulême, where she assisted the organist at the organ of the Cathedral. After having taken organ lessons with organists such as François-Henri Houbard, Francis Chapelet and François Espinasse, she got the virtuosity Diploma in the Paris Schola Cantorum organ class of Marie-Louise Langlais in 1993. The same year, she was named piano and organ teacher at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris-CNR, assisting Marie-Louise Langlais in the organ class.

During 10 years, she used to be choir organist at the Basilica of Sainte-Clotilde in Paris, and participated, as a pianist, to the recording of the Cd - Jean Langlais-Chamber music with piano.