Born in 1958, Jean Thorel studied orchestral conducting with Jean-Jacques Werner and Léon Barzin, and ballet conducting with Antal Dorati and André Girard. He won prizes in solfege, harmony and counterpoint at the Paris National Conservatory. In 1985 he became permanent conductor of the Stringendo Orchestral Ensemble (Paris). With the support of Jean-Claude Casadesus, he was awarded the Vocation Foundation Prize in 1989.An impassioned promoter of new and rare music, Thorel’s repertoire currently includes almost two hundred first performances. He has accompanied such eminent soloists as Augustin Dumay, Gérard Caussé, Torleif Thedéen, Christian Lindberg, Miceal O'Rourke, Sonia de Beaufort. Rolf Hind, Bernard Soustrot, André Isoir, Sonia Wieder-Atherton, Deborah Wood, Patrick Gallois, Marielle Nordmann, Hervé Désarbre. Since 1994 he has been regular guest conductor of the Danish State ensemble Athelas Sinfonietta, speciaIising in contemporary music and regularly giving concerts for the Danish Radio and at Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens as well as in Sweden and at prestigious festivals (Huddersfield, Numus Festival, UNM Festival, the Composers Biennale, the Festival of Danish Contemporary Music). In September 1999, he participated in the inaugural concert of the 'Diamond', Copenhagen’s new concert hall. Since 1997, he has been in ever increasing demand throughout Scandinavia, his versatility enabling him to conduct ballet at the Copenhagen Royal Opera and multi-facetted concert
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