William Dongois

Born in Langres in Champagne-Ardenne William Dongois studied trumpet in Rheims and in Paris. He taught the instrument parallel to orchestral activity both at the Academy and at the Grand Théâtre in Rheims. Member of the copper quintet of Champagne Ardenne he took part to numerous concerts and discovered with passion the musical repertoire of the XVIe and XVIIe centuries. At the same time, he deepened his knowledge of musical language in the class of Olivier Trachier. He mastered his diplomas in harmony, “fugue” and counterpoint, this combined with his skill of trumpet and his love for the early repertoire naturally led him to master the cornetto à bouquin, for which he received instruction from Jean-Pierre Canihac and Jordi Savall for music Ensemble.

William Dongois abandonned trumpet and decided to dedicate himself to the music of  the XVIe to the XVIIIe centuries, without neglecting middle-aged repertoire through diverse training courses on Gregorian and middle-aged counterpoint. He pursued his education at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis with Bruce Dickey until 1992. From that period onwards, he has played and recorded with numerous Ensembles: Hespérion XX, Les Sacqueboutiers de Toulouse, le Concerto Palatino, Tragicomedia, Taverner's Players, Gabrieli's Players, Elyma, Musica Fiata, and under the direction of Michel Corboz, Joshua Rifkin and Philippe Herreweghe.

William Dongois has played with the Ensemble la Fenice from its creation until 1993, with whom he won first prize in competitions at Bruges (1991) and Malmö (1992). He is regularly asked to play with the Concerto Vocale of René Jacobs and other Ensembles like Weser Renaissance Bremen, Le Poème Harmonique and la Capella de la Torre. He is also invited by the Ensemble Anthonello of Tokyo and Les Boréades of Montréal. 

Owning a diploma of teaching and a Certificate of Competence for ancient instruments, William Dongois teaches cornetto and improvisation throughout numerous training courses and master classes for different institutions in France, music high schools in Germany and as well as in Austria. He is holder professor of the cornetto class of the Ancient Music Center of Geneva.