BG - FRANCK BICHON / ENG

On Monday, November 17, 2025, the senior students of the Lyon Conservatory had the opportunity to visit BG, one of France's leading manufacturers of wind instrument accessories, founded and still run today by Franck Bichon.

Franck is a long-time friend, and the Lyon class has always benefited from his support, generosity, and kindness. Our partnership is greatly facilitated by the proximity of BG's premises, located just 8 kilometers from the conservatoire. The products aren't organic yet, but you can't get more local than that! :-)

Franck is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his company this year, and by a happy coincidence, the conservatoire's saxophone ensemble, L'Artisanat Furieux, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. It was a perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, combine business with pleasure, and, in clear, have some fun. And it was done!

Students began by learning about BG's history. In 1985, Serge Bichon (the father) created and tested new ligatures and straps, constantly striving to improve sound, comfort, and design. It was also around this time that Glotin (which today only manufactures double reeds) gradually overtook Vandoren in Lyon. The Bichon-Glotin partnership sealed the company's name with its initials.

Students like myself were often the beta testers for these new accessories. In Lyon, there was now only one possible truth (in the great democratic tradition of Serge Bichon:)))): Selmer saxophone with harmonic key, Selmer mouthpiece, Glotin reeds, and of course, BG ligature and strap.

Franck Bichon's talent for development and communication quickly transformed the family-run, artisanal business into a global leader in the industry. Today, BG boasts 1,200 square meters of manufacturing space, operates in 85 countries, and exports 85% of its products.

An undeniable entrepreneurial success, but also a model of high-end craftsmanship and the French art of living well.

This was followed by a tour of the production line. No autonomous machine tools were used; everything was done by hand. Each strap, each ligature was meticulously assembled, each product individually inspected and checked by skilled and meticulous craftspeople. I think the students were expecting to visit a robotic factory rather than traditional workshops filled with sewing machines, small desk lamps, and magnifying glasses.

The brand's motto, "When details make the difference," truly came to life here. The tour was led by the owner himself, Franck, and Pasquale Cascio, BG's lead saxophonist. Pasquale, originally from Sicily, was a student of Serge Bichon back when Fabrizio Mancuso, the famous tenor of the Habanera Quartet, and I were students at the conservatory. It's a family affair, I tell you!

From there, it's off to the test booths for a joyful hubbub of 15 furious individuals testing and comparing everything they can. They compare, they listen, they make choices...

From there, we headed to the testing booths for a joyful hubbub of 15 enthusiasts testing and comparing everything imaginable. We made choices, listened, and ordered. As usual, Franck was incredibly generous. But really !!! It truly felt like Christmas had come early, and this visit will undoubtedly remain THE birthday present for Artisanat Furieux.

Thank you, my friend! I know the students are still starry-eyed, and that their BG strap and ligature will continue to inspire others around the world.

Happy birthday, BG!