Born in Orléans, Durand studied mathematics, music education and piano in Paris, then composition with Brian Ferneyhough in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany (1981–84), and at Stony Brook University, New York, with Arel and Semegen (1984–86) (Weid 2001).
Between 1979 and 1984 he attended masterclasses by György Ligeti and Luciano Berio at the Centre Acanthes in Aix-en-Provence, and with Luigi Nono at the Freiburg Musikhochschule.
In 1982 he received a Darmstadt Institute Scholarship for his String Trio, and in 1983 his piano piece ...d'asiles déchirés... was awarded a prize at the Third International K.H.
In parallel to his activity as composer, Durand designs and manufactures high-end tonearms for record players.
His music is published by DURAND Editions Musicales, Paris, and Editions Musicales Européennes, Paris, and distributed by Alexander Street Press, and BabelScores (Paris) Mathew Nelson, clarinet Soundset Recordings SR1087, 2017 Eric Rynes, violin Albany Troy1614, 2016 musikFabrik, Helen Bledsoe (flute), James Wood (conductor) Wergo 68542, Edition musikFabrik CD 04, 2010 BBC Symphony Orchestra – London Sinfonietta – Gareth Hulse (oboe) – Paul Silverthorne (viola) – Hans-Ola Ericsson (organ) Mode 139, 2004 Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Stefan Litwin (piano), Bradley Lubman (conductor) – Trio de l'Ensemble Intercontemporain – Sextuor Schoenberg Naive Montaigne Mo 782093, 1998