We had the good fortune of connecting with Charles-Henri Avelange and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Charles-Henri, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am originally from France, in the French Riviera. I grew up a stone throw from the Cannes Film Festival. In some ways, that impacted a lot my decision to eventually become a composer for film and television. At some point in my youth, my family and I spent some time in a Knight Templar medieval castle, which happened to house the last species of giant bats in Europe! It’s during that time I developed my artistic self. Growing up in a building like this, so rich in history makes one kid’s mind go wild. My dad was in the French Army and from my mom side, I have a long lineage of very talented painters. This created an interesting mix. I relate a lot to service men and women of all corp and as a matter of fact, I have many times created music to honor the very service men and women of America. It’s always been very natural to me. And having that ancient artistry background from my mom side has always gave me that passion which pours back into any work I do. Although I grew up in France, going to America was life changing for me. It felt right the minute I landed in this country. As if I had finally “came back home.” Whereas as much as I love France and my upbringing, the reality is that I had always felt a little at odds there. I recently became a citizen of this great nation that is the USA and I couldn’t be prouder of it. My background and culture have always been an asset here and all the music that I have been composing and dedicating to America’s heroes are no longer just a gift from a Frenchmen, but a letter of a love and admiration to those on duty from a fellow citizen…