Aurélien Darbellay was born and raised in Liddes, in the canton of Valais (Switzerland). He discovered music within his local music society, l’Union Instrumentale de Liddes. After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Musicology from the University of Fribourg, he decided to devote himself fully to music. He therefore began a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting under the guidance of Jean-Claude Kolly from 2018 to 2021. Aurélien currently conducts the wind band l’Echo de Châtillon in Massongex, the Belp Orchestra and the Brass Band Fribourg B.
Since his adolescence, Aurélien has also been passionate about composition. In May 2019, his work Exils for wind orchestra, mixed choir, and children’s choir won the joint second prize as well as the Audience Award at the International Composition Competition of Haute-Savoie. In 2021, he received the second prize in the competition organized by the contemporary ensemble Diachronie with his piece O.L.D.. That same year, his work Dark is the Horizon won the Swiss prize at the composition competition of the Orchestra di Fiati della Svizzera Italiana (OFSI). In September 2022, Aurélien began a second Master’s degree in Contemporary Composition at the Bern University of the Arts. He obtained his Master’s degree in September 2024.