His career as an interpreter, which takes him around the world, has brought him numerous awards, in particular the international prize for Performer of the Year given to him in New-York by the American Guild of  Organists. As a pianist, he was the first in France and in England to perform Julius Reubke’s Sonata. In 1985 and 1999 he interpreted the complete works of J.S. Bach in ten public concerts recorded by Philips. He has won numerous international prizes for his recordings: in London the Critics’ award ; in Budapest the Liszt Academy Prize and in France a great many honors for the complete works of Cesar Frank as well as for the transcriptions of Mussorgky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and Stravinsky’s Three dances in Petrouchka.

He is the author of some sixty opuses, among which 5 concerti for organ and orchestra, 3 symphonies and numerous organ pieces and chamber music.

He was appointed professor at the Lisbon Sacred Music Institute  at the very early age of 20 and ever since has kept training young  people, in particular since 1970 at the Zurich Meistercursus where he teaches both improvisation and interpretation to organists from all over the world.

He is the author of numerous articles  published in literary studies journals as well as a fundamental book: L’orgue, Souvenir, Avenir ( Paris, Buchet  Chastel - 3rd edition - 1996 ) The organ, retrospect, prospect).

Jean Guillou is also an organ specialist who managed to give the 20th century organ a style of its own by having 7 instruments built under his control: in particular, at L’Alpe d’Huez:  Notre-Dame des Neiges, in Brussels:  Le Chant d’Oiseau, in Zurich: the Tonhalle,  and  Naples Scarlatti Conservatory.

Since 1963 Jean Guillou has been the incumbent organist of Saint-Eustache’s great organ, the largest as well as the most prestigious tracker action instrument in the world. In that capacity he became the artistic director of Saint-Eustache’s Festival as well as that of ARGOS.