René Vierne, born in Lille March 11, 1878, died for France near Verdun in Marne May 29, 1918, was a French organist and composer. He was the younger brother of composer and organist Louis Vierne. Driven by his mother, he entered the Catholic Seminary in Petit Versailles in 1889 where he worked with the music canon Poïvet. But not feeling the vocation, he left the seminary and decided to devote himself to music. He took organ lessons, counterpoint and fugue with his brother Louis. Then he studied with Guilmant at the Paris Conservatory and received his first organ and improvisation Award in 1906.