CHALLAN, Annie

Annie Challan (b. 1940) is a French harpist, composer and teacher, born in Toulouse on 5 November 1940. She comes from a musical family: her father was the composer René Challan. Her musical education began very early, first with piano at the age of two and then with harp at nine. She studied harp with Lily Laskine and, at fifteen, received the harp prize from the Conservatoire de Paris.
Her performing career also started at a remarkably young age. At sixteen she became solo harpist with the Concerts Colonne, and two years later she entered the orchestra of the Paris Opéra, where she stayed for eighteen years. She later formed a harp duo with Suzanne Cotelle and also performed internationally in a flute-and-harp duo with Roger Bourdin.
Challan has composed a substantial body of music centred on the harp, including works for solo harp, harp duo and trio, harp ensemble, as well as pieces combining harp with flute, cello or clarinet. She has also had a significant teaching career, including work at the Conservatoire de Versailles and the Conservatoire de Marly-le-Roi. In 2015 she established Éditions Annie Challan, dedicated to publishing her own compositions and harp repertoire.