Eric Varion, a French conductor based between Lyon, Saint-Étienne, and Clermont-Ferrand, has developed a career rooted in both the great European symphonic tradition and contemporary music. He regularly collaborates with the Ensemble Orchestral Contemporain, where he is associate conductor alongside composer Bruno Mantovani, as well as with the Opéra de Saint-Étienne.

Trained at the Paris Conservatory and then at the Lausanne University of Music, he initially pursued a career as a tuba player—notably as Principal Tuba at the Saint-Étienne Opera—before dedicating himself fully to conducting. This unique path has given him an intimate knowledge of orchestral workings and a direct, embodied, and collaborative musical approach.

Eric Varion has conducted a wide symphonic and lyrical repertoire, from Mozart to contemporary creation, and has directed many landmark productions: Sept, Les Anges de Sinjar, Cosmos by Fabrice Jünger, Coloured Lines by Dan Yuhas, Bowie Symphonic, Cendrillon by Nicolas Isouard, Hommage à Le Corbusier, among others.

His collaborations have led him to work with French and international institutions: the Ensemble Orchestral Contemporain, the Opéra de Saint-Étienne, the Orchestre National de Cannes, the Festival de La Chaise-Dieu, the Ensemble Symphonique Loire Forez, the Festival de Campos do Jordão (São Paulo), the Luxembourg Chamber Orchestra, and the Philharmonie de Paris – DEMOS project. Committed to education and training, he has conducted the orchestras of the conservatories of Saint-Étienne and Clermont-Ferrand and led extensive educational and community-based projects.

Eric Varion also maintains strong ties with China, where he has already performed in concert with the Alliance Brass Quintet at the invitation of local partners. His interest in Sino-French cultural exchange has led him to develop a significant aspect of his career in China, collaborating with orchestras, institutions, universities, and festivals that wish to promote French music and contemporary European works.

His work is distinguished by the creation of bridges between aesthetics: classical music, contemporary repertoires, current music, jazz, pop, performing arts, and transdisciplinary projects. He seeks to connect tradition and innovation, an approach particularly in tune with Chinese audiences curious about new artistic experiences.