Jean-Luc Thellin is an organist from Liège who teaches composition, practical harmony and improvisation at the Royal Music Conservatory in Liège.
As winner of several international competitions, he does not try to specialise in just one period of music history. He interprets both ancient music and that of the 20th century, and does not, of course, omit JS Bach and the Romantic period. All this allows him to be invited to international festivals such as the one of L’automne musical de Spa, Festival international de Roquevaire (France), International Festival of Oliwa (Poland), Festival “Toulouse les orgues”, Festival of Alkmaar (Netherlands), Notre-Dame de Paris, St Louis en l’île, Organ Festival of Liège, …..
He has a particular passion for the organ works of J.S. Bach, César Franck and Maurice Duruflé. Duruflé, whose complete works he performed in concert a few years ago… The desire to discover the work of the famous composer from the most secret angles is one of his priorities.
Improvisation is another of his priorities. Jean-Luc Thellin gives a lot of attention, both during concerts and in the liturgy, to improvisation, which allows the community, the audience and the organist to enter into the same atmosphere, while mastering the emotion of the moment. By receiving advice from Firmin Decerf and Thierry Escaich, he has been able to draw on the experience of two of the greatest improvisers of our time.
In December 2007, he paid a living tribute to Louis Vierne at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris by improvising a finale in the style of the master.
In June 2010, Jean-Luc Thellin was appointed titular organist of the Stolz organ of Notre-Dame de Vincennes.