JEAN-MICHEL GOURY was born in Tonneins, France ans was nurtured in music by his father, Pierre Goury, Secretary of the French National Association of Bands. 

He studied at the Conservatoire National de Musique de Bordeaux and received the Médaille d’Or (given unanimously by the jury) in saxophone while studying with Jean-Marie Londeix. 

He also completed distinguished musical studies in musical analysis with François Rossé, wind ensemble conducting with André Leclercq, and chamber music with Francis Vallone. 

He has won first prize in a number of national and international music competitions, including Aix-le-Bains in 1980, where he received congratulatory remarks from the president of the jury, legendary saxophonist Marcel Mule. 

Since receiving the Certificat d’Aptitude (France’s highest teaching diploma in music) in 1982, Jean-Michel has taught in the French Conservatory system, first at the Conservatoire National de Musique de Landes and, since 1986, at  the Conservatoire National de Musique de Landes and now at one of France’s most modern schools, the Conservatoire National de Musique de Boulogne-Billancourt in Paris.

Solo concerts with Orchestre des Jeunes (Bavière) Ensemble Orchestral International of Italy, Chamber Orchestra of Toulouse, « Itineraire ». Participates at the World Saxophone Congresses in Nürenberg, Washington, Kawasaki and Pesaro. 
Since 1979 he premieres and promotes new works by : Boudreau, Isaksson, Kynaston, Jakubowski, Lauba, Minamikawa, Mintchev, Myazawa, Pavlenko, Reibel, Rolin, Rossé, Sauguet, Sauvanet, Savouret, Schilling, 
Carlosema, Grouvel, Karlins.