Real name: Cécile Ousset

Effective period / Period of releases: 1969 - 1999

Born: February 23, 1936 (Tarbes, France)

Cécile Ousset gave her first recital at the age of five. After studying at the Paris Conservatoire with Marcel Ciampi, she graduated with the top prize. She was only 14 years old.

She won more than one major price at many competitions, including the Van Cliburn, the Busoni and the Queen Elisabeth of Belgium. Ousset developed a highly successful international career. She's popular with British audiences and performed a number of times at the Proms.

She first played in America in 1984 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra, and has subsequently returned to America regularly to appear with all the principal orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra and the The New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

Cécile Ousset often adjudicates at major piano competitions, including the Van Cliburn and the Leeds. She gives master classes every summer in Puycelsi. (info dated 2003)

In December 2006, Ousset retired from public performance due to health problems related to her back.