Déclert

Alain Georges Déclert passed away on Jan. 29, 2025. Alain was born on June 27, 1938 in Fontainebleau, France.

He began his musical studies at an early age in piano, organ and chamber music with leading French teachers. His keyboard instructor was Gilberte Lecompte, who was also on the faculty of the American Conservancy of Fontainebleau. In 1961, Mr. Déclert was awarded the National Prize in Keyboard of the Fédération Musicale Populaire in Paris. He received a degree in 1962 in electrical and mechanical engineering.

Professionally, Alain was trained as a mechanical engineer, advancing through a 20year career in the oil industry. He was a designer for industrial and commercial lighting, then a Paris-based engineer specializing in gas turbines. Concurrent with a successful career in the oil and gas in Algeria he served as organist at the Algiers Cathedral of the Sacred Heart for eleven years from 1970-1981.

The oil industry may have brought Alain to Houston, but from that point on, music was the subject on his mind. While still running his own company for oil and gas he began to work as a booking agent for French musicians. He produced the “Paris Series” of concerts across five major Texas cities from 1981-1985. He also served as organist at St. Cyril of Alexandria Roman Catholic Church on Westheimer in far west Houston from 1983-1989. In December 1982, Alain Déclert brought his talents to the Round Top Festival Institute. For more than 10 years Alain created and directed the food service for the faculty, students, staff, and visitors. During that time his musical talents and administrative abilities came to the forefront.

He gradually took over the tasks of conducting auditions for student scholarships and, along with the Founder of the Festival Institute, James Dick, participated in selecting faculty members. He also helped select conductors for the weekly orchestral concerts and supervised the choice of repertoire for a growing series of chamber music and instrumental performances. He officially became the Institute’s Program Director in 1993. He had recently retired and began serving as an Advisor.

In short, Alain Déclert’s work became that of an artistic administrator, overseeing myriad details to guide the musical aspirations of students and faculty members as they winded their way through an intricate schedule of the Summer Music Festival activities, all taking place within the Festival Hill campus. In the process, the artistic quality of musical performances at the Round Top Festival Institute have steadily been raised over the last four decades.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 from 4-7 p.m. at Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home and Cremations in La Grange. A Memorial Service at Festival Hill is being planned for a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his memory may be directed to The James Dick Foundation, Round Top Festival Institute, P.O. Box 89, Round, Top, Texas 78954 or online at festivalhill.org Family and friends can view and sign the guestbook online at www.lagrangefunerals. com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home & Cremations.