French composer and harpist Bernard Andrès died on July 14, 2026, at the age of 84. Born in 1941 in Belfort, France, Andrès discovered the harp at age 19 and studied at conservatories in Besançon and Strasbourg before entering the Paris Conservatory, where he won a first prize in harp in 1966. Harpist of the French Broadcasting Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France) from 1969 to 2005, he taught at the music conservatories of Creteil and Choisy-le-Roi.
Andrès was an innovative composer who developed his own notation for a range of extended techniques. His compositions include many works for the harp at varying skill levels and compositions for orchestra and for different chamber music ensembles.
Learn more in our cover interview with Andrès from the March-April 2001 issue of Harp Column.
