Jean Paul Dessy

Jean Paul Dessy (born 1963) is a Belgian cellist, composer, and conductor. Founder and artistic director of the contemporary music ensemble Musiques Nouvelles in Brussels, he has been a central figure in Belgian new music as both performer and organiser since the 1980s. As a cellist his technique extends into prepared and electronic performance; as a composer he has written for orchestra, chamber ensemble, and electroacoustic forces. His programming and curatorial work at Musiques Nouvelles has consistently championed living composers from Belgium and internationally, making the ensemble one of Europe's more adventurous new music institutions.