Roger Delmotte Celebrates 100th Birthday
Roger Delmotte recently celebrated his 100th birthday on Saturday, September 20, 2025, in Versailles.
He has lived and taught in Versailles for more than forty years. Roger's family decided to organize a celebration, inviting trumpet players who had crossed paths with him as pupils, students, colleagues, and friends, as well as the current students of the conservatory's brass and percussion classes, to create a large brass ensemble for a surprise worthy of the occasion. Dozens of musicians from all over France and abroad responded to this call and gathered first at the Versailles Conservatory for a rehearsal, then at the Town Hall for a ceremony.
The rehearsal was conducted by the current director of the conservatory, Xavier-Romaric Saumon, assisted by the conservatory's teachers in organizing the event. The program included Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, Jean-Baptiste Lully's Suite from Le Carrousel du Roi, and John Williams' Olympic Fanfare and Theme. This rehearsal was followed by a surprise performance for Roger Delmotte. The musicians took their places on the steps of City Hall and played the program when Roger arrived. He remained standing throughout the performance between the musicians and the large audience who had come to listen and discover the many familiar faces encountered throughout a lifetime!
A reception was organized following the performance in the Town Hall, where the director of the conservatory, the mayor (François de Mazières), and Roger took turns speaking. It was with great emotion that everyone present listened attentively as Roger spoke. It was a wonderful moment of sharing and reunion, centered around an icon of our instrument who remains very knowledgeable about everything related to the trumpet.
After winning first prize at the Paris Conservatory in 1946, Roger Delmotte became the first trumpet player to win first prize at the Geneva Competition. He began teaching at the Versailles Conservatory that same year and continued until 1994. He was also the principal trumpet player with the Paris Opera Orchestra from 1951 to 1986. Throughout his career, numerous works were dedicated to him, and he influenced composers of the trumpet repertoire of the second half of the 20th century. He was also made a Chevalier de l'Ordre National des Arts et des Lettres (1965), Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur (1972), Officier de l'Ordre National du Mérite (2001), and received an Honorary Award from the International Trumpet Guild (2011). (Source: André Bonnici)
