Opening of the Jazz Department

The École Normale de Musique de Paris is opening a new chapter in its history with the launch of its Jazz Department, starting in October 2025.

Registrations are open until July, but it is highly recommended to register as early as possible, especially if applying for a scholarship.

A specialized program for young jazz professionals and students of the school
We offer advanced classes in jazz piano, jazz vocals, jazz double bass, jazz drums, and jazz saxophone, aimed at musicians already engaged in a professional career or nearing the end of their higher education studies.
This program is in line with the École’s long-standing reputation for excellence in classical music training.

A flexible training program tailored to active artists
The advanced classes allow artists to deepen their instrumental practice in a setting that is ideal for musical performance and within an exceptional environment.
Each student receives 1 hour of individual lessons per week, excluding school holidays, amounting to 32 hours over the year.

An internationally renowned teaching team
The Jazz Department is supported by a team of exceptional teachers, recognized for their artistic careers and pedagogical commitment.

Bojan Z

Bojan Zulfikarpasic is a Franco-Serbian pianist with an international career. Trained in Belgrade and later in the United States with Clare Fischer, he settled in France in 1988 and studied at the CIM (Centre d’Information Musicale). Winner of the 1st prize for soloist at the La Défense Competition in 1990, he joined Henri Texier, worked with Michel Portal, and developed a unique career combining jazz, Balkan music, and improvisation. He performs at major international festivals (Marciac, Montreal, North Sea Jazz, etc.) and collaborates with renowned artists such as Scott Colley and Nasheet Waits.

Stéphane Audard

Stéphane Audard is a guitarist, arranger, teacher, and musicologist. He studied music at the conservatory of Chambéry. He has recorded with notable artists such as Michel Legrand, Ludovic de Preissac, and others. He writes arrangements for various big bands and orchestras. He teaches at the CRR (Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional) of Paris and coordinates the jazz department at the conservatory in the 11th arrondissement. He earned his doctorate in musicology in 2024, after defending his thesis on the history of jazz education. Qualified as a lecturer, he also teaches at Université de La Sorbonne and Paris Cité University, and is an associate researcher at IReMus (Institut de Recherche en Musicologie).

Yaron Herman

Yaron Herman is a Franco-Israeli pianist and composer renowned for his innovative approach, blending jazz, classical music, and contemporary sounds. From an early age, he developed a personal style combining virtuosity, freedom, and melodic sensibility. Awarded the Victoire du Jazz in 2008 and the Adami Jazz Talent prize, he has chaired the piano jury at the Montreux Jazz Festival and served as a mentor at the Montreux Jazz Academy. He performs on some of the largest stages in Europe, the United States, and Asia.

Joe Sanders

Joe Sanders, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is an American double bassist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. Trained at the Brubeck Institute and the Thelonious Monk Institute, he has become one of the most sought-after bassists of his generation. He has collaborated with major figures in contemporary jazz such as Gerald Clayton, Charles Lloyd, Joshua Redman, Kendrick Scott, and Ben Wendel. As a bandleader, he has released three albums: Introducing Joe Sanders (2011), Humanity (2017), and Parallels (2024). Based in the south of France since 2014, he continues to perform on international stages while developing his personal projects.

Claudia Solal

Claudia Solal is a singer, songwriter, and improviser with a unique and adventurous voice, active for over 25 years on major French and international stages. At the intersection of composition and improvisation, she has developed a distinctive vocal language, which she describes as “offshore songs.” Her numerous projects (with Benjamin Moussay, Didier Petit, Benoît Delbecq, etc.) have been highly praised by critics (Télérama, Choc Jazzmag, Grand Prix of the Charles Cros Academy).
As a committed educator, she teaches voice at the PSPBB.

David Linx

David Linx, a key figure in European vocal jazz, has recorded over 25 albums as a bandleader or co-leader, while collaborating with major artists such as Toots Thielemans, Paolo Fresu, Ivan Lins, Maria João, Natalie Dessay, and Michel Portal. His landmark project A Lover’s Question, with James Baldwin, brought him international recognition. Since 1992, his duo with pianist Diederik Wissels has been praised for reinventing contemporary vocal jazz. A respected educator, he has been teaching at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels since 1995 and frequently lectures at major European institutions.

Gauthier Garrigue

Gauthier Garrigue is a French drummer and guitarist. A graduate of the Conservatoire of Perpignan in 2002, he moved to Paris in 2007, where he collaborated with numerous ensembles and musicians from the jazz scene (Yuval Amihai Ensemble, Flash Pig, David Enhco, Paul Lay, Logan Richardson, etc.). Very active, he has performed with many figures from both the French and international jazz scenes and has played around the world (Europe, Asia, Africa, Canada) at prestigious festivals such as Jazz in Marciac, Jazz à Sète, the Victoria Jazz Festival, and the Belgrade Jazz Festival. Since 2008, he has been teaching at the Bill Evans Piano Academy in Paris.

Émile Parisien

Émile Parisien is a French jazz saxophonist. Trained in Marciac and then at the Conservatoire of Toulouse, he moved to Paris in 2000 and founded his own quartet in 2004 with Julien Touéry, Ivan Gélugne, and Sylvain Darrifourcq. His playing, at the crossroads of jazz and contemporary music, has led him to collaborate with major figures such as Michel Portal, Vincent Peirani, and Joachim Kühn. Awarded numerous prizes (including the Django Reinhardt in 2012 and Victoires du Jazz in 2014), he has established himself as an essential figure in European jazz.

An Environment Conducive to Creativity

Students in the Jazz Department have access to the School’s studios and rehearsal rooms and participate in the artistic life of the institution, particularly the concerts held in the Salle Cortot.

A jazz festival is being planned for the 2025-2026 season to showcase the young jazz scene and projects led by our students and teachers.

A Comprehensive Training Program

In addition to instrumental lessons, students will have access to:

  • Free access to classical music courses: solfège, music history, analysis, to enrich their musical culture.
  • Jazz-specific theoretical courses (harmony, composition, jazz culture), taught by Stéphane Audart.
  • Tai Chi classes, physiotherapy sessions, and the Digital Chair program, all accessible to students.
  • Workshops and masterclasses throughout the year (examples include “Keyboard Harmonization” by Isabelle Duha or “Poetry/Recitation Workshops” with François Leroux).

Students have access to the school every day, from Monday to Sunday.

Fees and Scholarships

The annual cost of the program is €7,520, with additional fees:

  • €400 registration fee for European students
  • €600 registration fee for non-European students

A scholarship system is available upon request and based on a file review. Students must first pre-register online through the school’s website. Once they receive their student number, they can complete the scholarship application form online. Two scholarship committees are organized, the first one taking place at the end of May. A response is provided shortly after this first session.

Join an Institution of Excellence!

With this new department, the École Normale de Musique de Paris aims to offer jazz artists a stimulating and supportive environment, in line with the demands of their art.
We invite passionate musicians, seeking in-depth learning and meaningful artistic encounters, to join this exciting journey starting in October 2025.

Apply