Victor Aviat

Victor Aviat (1982–2025) was a super talented French oboist, conductor, and composer who left a big mark on the classical music scene. Born in Montpellier, he honed his skills on oboe, piano, organ, and conducting in Paris, Zurich, Geneva, and Leipzig, studying with masters like Louise Pellerin and Maurice Bourgue, and getting key nods from legends like Claudio Abbado, Iván Fischer, and Emmanuel Krivine. As principal oboist, he rocked spots with the Budapest Festival Orchestra, Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and Zurich Opera House, while also shining as a soloist with top orchestras.

Aviat pivoted to conducting around 2009, launching big after being a finalist in the 2014 Nestlé and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award, and snagging praise for leading Offenbach's rediscovered *Le Roi Carotte* at Opéra de Lyon—which won Best Rediscovered Work at the 2016 International Opera Awards. He guest-conducted heavy-hitters like the Royal Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Luxembourg Philharmonic, and Bournemouth Symphony (where he was Young Conductor in Association), plus dipped into composing with his debut orchestral piece *Sur le Danube* performed by the Orchestre National de France in 2019. Tragically, he passed away from a brain tumor on May 1, 2025, at age 42.

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