Biography
Two time Canadian Accordion Champion Michael Bridge is one of the most versatile young accordionists of today, expertly blending contemporary works with great composers like Bach and Haydn, french musettes, jazz standards, Piazzolla tangos and pop hits from the Beatles to present day. Michael made his orchestra debut at age 16 with the Boston Pops for the hit NPR radio show “From the Top”. Though only entering his third year of university studies, his touring has led him around the world: to China, Croatia, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and all across Canada and the USA.
A virtuoso on both acoustic and digital accordions, his extensive touring schedule includes concerts both as a soloist and in frequent collaboration with clarinet, violin, opera singers, tango singers, percussionists, and the Wolak Clarinet Extravaganza, a dynamic quartet stage show consisting of clarinet, accordion/piano, guitar, and soprano/percussion. In the highlights of 2012 was a performance with the internationally renowned Quartetto Gelato in Santa Barbara, CA.
Michael is in his third year at the University of Toronto where he studies with world-renowned accordionist Joseph Macerollo. He previously studied with Beverley Fess (accordion), Donna Holloboff (piano), Robert Rosen (harmony and composition) and Tim Janz (harmony and composition). He is a captivating young musician, determined to raise the profile of the accordion for the next generation!