One of the most outstanding French composers, teachers, and organists of the second half of the 20th Century, Gabriel Faure reached respect and recognition with difficulty. Faure studied with Saint-Saens and was appointed an organist at several Paris churches. Faure, however, was not offered a teaching position until 1897, when he got professorship at the Paris Conservatoire. Faure was immediately recognized as an outstanding pedagogue, his students included Ravel and Enesco. In 1905, after the scandal provoked by the unfair refusal of the Prix de Rome to Ravel, Faure became director of the Conservatoire. Faure implemented a number of necessary reforms to the Conservatoire. In 1920, Faure retired from the administrative job and fully devoted himself to composition.