Allain Gaussin was born in Saint Sever (Normandy, France) in 1943. He interrupted his studies of mathematics and physics when he was 20 years old to start musical studies. In October 1966, he continued at the "Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique" in Paris, where he studied composition with Olivier Messiaen. There, he won first prizes in music writing and analysis, and the composition prize. He also studied piano (with Helene Boschi), choir conducting, conducting (with Louis Fourestier), electoacoustics (at the GRM in 1974 and 1975) and music technology (IRCAM in 1984). 1981-1992: he taught composition and orchestration at the Schola-Cantorum (Paris). Summers 1986 and 1988: he gave conferences and courses of composition in Darmstadt (Germany). December 1994: conferences at the University of Music of Osaka (Japan). 1998 and 2001: composition seminars at the CNSM in Lyon and Paris. May 2003: conferences in Tokyo and Kyoto Universities. 2003 - 2004: he taught composition at the CNSM in Paris. 2004-2005 He takes part in the research group on rhythm at IRCAM. 2000-2008 Composition and Orchestration teacher at the Conservatoire in Sevran. Currently, he teaches composition at the American Academy in Fontainebleau, Orchestration at the Music University of Osaka (Japan) and Composition at the Yoko KUBO Contemporary Music Institut in Nishinomiya (Japan).