Trained at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, Jean Raffard graduated with the first prize in trombone and the first prize in chamber music. He is also a prizewinner at the international competitions in Munich, Toulon, and Prague. 
Jean Raffard has successively been the solo trombonist of the Garde Républicaine, the Orchestre de l’Opéra National de Lyon, and the Orchestre National de Lyon. 
He joined the Paris Opera Orchestra in 1991 as first solo trombone and became the solo trombonist in 1996. In 1995, he was the solo trombonist at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. 
Jean Raffard is a professor at the Boulogne-Billancourt Regional Conservatory as well as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris. He is also the director of the collection at Billaudot music publishing house.