Born in Marseille in 1934, Maxence Larrieu is considered one of the most important living flautists. He first studied at the Academy of Music in his home town under Joseph Rampal. Earning his diploma with full marks, he joined Gaston Crunelle’s class at the Academy of Music in Paris, and in 1951, after only one year of study at the Academy, won the Premier Prix in Chamber Music. In 1954 Larrieu took first prizes in international competitions in Munich and in Geneva. He has since then appeared with such renowned orchestras as I Musici and the English Chamber Orchestra. Larrieu maintains an active career alternating between performing, adjudicating, holding master-classes and teaching in Geneva and Lyon.