Francois Devienne

François Devienne (January 31, 1759 – September 5, 1803) was a French composer and professor for flute at the Paris Conservatory. François Devienne was born in Joinville (Haute-Marne), as the youngest of fourteen children of a saddlemaker. After receiving his first musical training as a choirboy in his hometown, he was playing in various Parisian ensembles as soloist and orchestra player. He studied the flute with Félix Rault and in 1780 he joined the household of Cardinal de Rohan.