After over 40 years at the head of the Orchestre National de Lille (ONL), of which he was the founder, Jean-Claude Casadesus enjoys an international career that has brought seasons in Germany, Russia, Japan, Latvia and in Lille.

He participated with Pierre Dervaux in the establishment of the orchestra of the Pays de la Loire and conducted the orchestras of the Paris Opéra and Opéra Comique before founding the ONL in 1976, leading to appearances throughout the world, in 32 countries. He has been responsible for the development of young audiences and an enthusiastic public.

His 30 albums with the orchestra have won critical and public acclaim and as a guest conductor he has appeared in Moscow, Singapore, Montreal, Baltimore, Seoul, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Philadelphia, Monte Carlo, St Petersburg and Berlin.

He is an enthusiastic champion of contemporary music and has set up residences for composers with the Lille orchestra, since 2001 presiding over Musique Nouvelle en Liberté. Jean-Claude Casadesus has written two books. He is President of the Lille École Supérieure Musique et Danse Hauts-de-France and director of the Lille Piano Festival.