Elizabeth Fontan-Binoche
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Elisabeth Fontan‑Binoche is a French harpist and harp teacher. She is the aunt of French actress Juliette Binoche.[1][2]
Fontan‑Binoche is one of the last pupils of Marcel Tournier.[3][4][1] She started studying with him at 6 years old[5] at the Paris Conservatoire, where he taught until 1948.
Fontan‑Binoche won 4th prize in the first edition of the Israel Harp Competition in 1959, earning a major international reputation early in her career.[6][7]
Performing career
Fontan‑Binoche gave recitals across Europe, the United States, Canada, South America, Japan, Tunisia, and New Caledonia [8] and performed on stage until a later age, including a recital in Italy at 87 years old in 2014.[9]
A live recording of her Kyoto recital won the National Award in Japan in 2006.[5][10]
In addition to her solo and chamber music career, she held the position of Principal Harp at the Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice.[11]
She sat on the jury of major international harp competitions, such as the USA International Harp Competition[8] and the French Harp Contest (Concours Français de la Harpe).[12]