Nicolas Bacri

Nicolas Bacri was born in Paris, France. His musical studies began with piano lessons at the age of seven. After graduating in 1983 with the premier prix in composition, he attended the French Academy in Rome. Back in Paris, he worked for four years (1987–91) as the Director of Chamber Music for Radio France.

Bacri organized the very first performance of the complete 15 string quartets cycle by Shostakovich (1989–90 season with the Manhattan String Quartet as a symbol of the end of cold war) in France and featured for the first time in France the major composers of Terezin : Pavel Haas, Gideon Klein, Hans Krasa and Viktor Ullmann. Since then, he has concentrated on freelance composing, receiving commissions from major institutions and festivals around the world.

Bacri taught orchestration at the Geneva Conservatory (HEM/HES) from 2005 to 2011. He regularly gives masterclasses in composition. Currently, Bacri is Professor of Composition at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Paris (since October 2017).