Joël-François Durand was born in 1954 in Orléans, France; studied mathematics, piano and musicology in Paris. Studies of composition with Brian Ferneyhough in Freiburg (1981–84) and with Bülent Arel and Daria Semegen in New York (1985–88). Master classes with György Ligeti and Luciano Berio; computer music courses at IRCAM in Paris, 1987. He has taught at the University of Washington since 1991; currently professor of composition and music theory. Numerous other teaching assignments at Darmstadt and elsewhere. Awarded the Donald E. Petersen Endowed Professorship, 2003–06.