BIOGRAPHIE
André Pons was born on June 26th, 1932 in Castres (Tarn), and died on August 8th, 2018 in Le Puy-en-Velay (Haute-Loire). He studied at the Toulouse Conservatory, and then at the CNSM in Paris, where he was unanimously awarded first prize in 1952.
Lead clarinettist at the Opéra de Nice in 1953, then at the Monte-Carlo Opera from 1954 to 1959, he won second prize at the 1957 Geneva International Competition, then was co-soloist at the Paris Opera until his retirement in 1992. He also taught at various music academies (Nice, Paris 20th arrondissement, Le Vésinet, Rueil-Malmaison, La Celle-Saint-Cloud) and performed at many venues both in France and abroad.