Benoît Mernier

Organ

Benoît Mernier, a graduate of the Liège and Lille Conservatoires, honed his musical skills under the guidance of esteemed mentors such as Firmin Decerf, Charles Koenig, Joris Verdin, Bernard Foccroulle, Jean Boyer, and Jean Ferrard. Additionally, he pursued composition studies with Claude Ledoux and Philippe Boesmans, further enriching his artistic repertoire.
Having imparted knowledge in organ, improvisation, musical analysis, and writing across various Belgian art colleges, Benoît Mernier currently serves as a professor of organ at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels.

Benoît Mernier is acclaimed for his organ concerts held across Europe, Japan, Mexico, and Canada. His musical prowess is further showcased in multiple recordings, including one that earned him the prestigious Grand Prix de l'Académie du Disque Charles Cros.
Benoît Mernier's musical repertoire spans from the richness of early music, including the 17th and 18th centuries, to the emotive landscapes of Romantic and contemporary compositions. Beyond his performance career, he holds the esteemed positions of organist at Notre-Dame church in Le Sablon and curator of the organ at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels.

Alongside his roles as an accomplished organist and dedicated teacher, Benoît Mernier immerses himself in the art of composition. His musical creations have garnered acclaim in international competitions, with several receiving prestigious awards. Mernier's compositions have graced the programs of esteemed festivals such as Présences in Paris, Wien Modern in Vienna, ISCM, Ars Musica in Brussels, and Prague Premieres. Renowned musicians and orchestras have brought his works to life, establishing him as a prominent figure in contemporary classical music. Notably, he held the esteemed position of Composer in Residence at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, showcased his talents at the Carinthischer Sommer festival in Austria, and was a guest of honor at the Festival de Wallonie. Additionally, he crafted the compulsory work for the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition during its 2004 singing session.

He has composed two operas, both premiered and commissioned by the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels. The first one, 'Frühlings Erwachen,' based on F. Wedekind's work, has undergone various productions and has been released on CD and DVD, earning a Diapason d'Or. This recording is available through Cyprès, which has also released several monographic discs featuring his music (www.cypres-records.com). Additionally, a book by Mardaga is dedicated to him, titled "L'Eveil du Printemps, naissance d'un opéra."
The Koussevitzky Foundation and the US Library of Congress commissioned him to create a piece for the centenary celebration of the Pro Arte Quartet. This composition premiered in the United States and was recorded for the Albany label. After composing a violin concerto for Lorenzo Gatto, featured on a Cyprès CD, he crafted a cycle based on poems by Emily Dickinson for the Chœur des Jeunes and the Orchestre de la Monnaie. Additionally, an organ concerto premiered by Olivier Latry marked the inauguration of the new organ at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. Both these works have been released on disc, earning him the Octaves de la Musique award for 2019. More recently, he completed the opera "On purge Bébé!" by Philippe Boesmans posthumously and contributed the music for the film "Ailleurs, si j'y suis" directed by François Pirot. Currently, he is working on a new opera scheduled for premiere at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie in 2026.
His recording of his "Pange lingua" for organ, released by the German label Aeolus, received the prestigious Diapason d'Or award.

Since 2007, he has been a member of the Fine Arts class at the Académie Royale de Belgique.