Dr. Jeanne Hourez in Concert

Praised for her “rare talent for breathing life into the instrument” (Tunite Music), French pianist Jeanne Hourez is recognized for her versatility as a soloist, chamber musician, researcher, and advocate for underrepresented voices in music. She has performed with orchestras such as the Orchestre Symphonique de Cannes, the Orchestre Symphonique Azuréen, and the Orchestre Philharmonique des Musiciens de Montréal, and her concert career has taken her across Europe, North America, and Asia.

A strong advocate for more inclusive music, Jeanne is dedicated to highlighting works by female composers from the Belle Époque to today. She has presented her research at numerous national and international festivals and conferences, including CMS, MTNA, the Music by Women Festival, SHE: Festival of Women in Music, TMTA, and the Royal Conservatoire Birmingham (UK).

A passionate chamber musician, Jeanne enjoys exploring a wide range of chamber settings. She has released multiple albums and frequently collaborates with emerging composers and artists. She performs with violinist Katia Darisio as Duo Swann and co-founded Ensemble Benzaiten, whose repertoire uniquely blends mandolin and piano. She is also the pianist of SoundMap Ensemble, an Austin-based contemporary chamber orchestra that experiments with creative sound projects.

Alongside her performing and research activities, Jeanne is frequently invited to give masterclasses and adjudicate at regional and state competitions.

Jeanne earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at the University of Texas at Austin under the tutelage of Anton Nel. She is a graduate of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris, holds a Master’s degree from the Université de Montréal and a Performance Diploma from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She is currently Assistant Professor of Music at Southwestern University.