Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) was a French composer, organist, and teacher. He was born in Avignon, France, and entered the Paris Conservatoire at the age of 11. He studied among others with Paul Dukas, Charles-Marie Widor and Marcel Dupré.

From 1929, Messiaen regularly deputised at the Église de la Sainte-Trinité, Paris. Upon the death of Charles Quef in 1931, Dupré, Tournemire and Widor among others supported Messiaen’s candidacy. The appointment was confirmed in 1931, and Messiaen remained the organist at the church for more than 60 years.

Messiaen was a respected teacher, he taught at the Paris Conservatoire for many years, though was appointed official professor of composition only in 1966. Among his many students are Jean-Pierre Leguay and Karlheinz Stockhausen.