Pierre MICHAUD : biography

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Photo: Claude Mertens

Pierre MICHAUD

Cello / Composer

Originating from Québec, Pierre Michaud, born in 1959, started playing the cello at age 8.
He studied at the Québec Conservatory and then in Rabat (Morocco) and became a self taught composer.

From '78 to '82 he studied in Freiburg (Germany) at the Musikhochschule with Christoph Henkel who encouraged him to develop his own style. He lived and performed in various European and African countries and participated in radio and TV shows at Radio-Canada, France-Inter, RSR (Switzerland), Süddeutscher Rundfunk (Germany), Africa no 1 (Gabon), and RTBF, RTL-TVI & Télé-Bruxelles (Belgium).

Composer and interpreter of the music for "Femmes d'Alger" ('92), "Les lobbies sortent de l'ombre" ('95), and "Algérie, des enfants parlent" ('99), movies by Kamal Dehane, he also shared the stage with Joël Smets, a well known Belgian story-teller.
Janos Starker, Mstislav Rostropovitch and Yo-Yo Ma, cello players of international fame, showed great appreciation for his work.
Sought after for various projects, Pierre Michaud had the opportunity to play with jazz violonist Jean-Pierre Catoul and had studio sessions with Dick Rivers, Indochine, Philippe Léotard, Affaire Louis Trio, Pow Wow, Marc Morgan, Orion, Jean-Louis Daulne, Zap Mama.

In June '95 he was among the string players recruited for a series of concerts in Rotterdam and Brussels with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin).

In '96/'97 he took part in the "Artango & String Quartet " album "Métropole" (concerts in Orléans and Paris, live TV appearance on France 3). He also played with "Légitime Démence", touring Switzerland and Belgium, and with Pascale Vyvère (CD and live concert in Brussels). During the same years, he was a member of Talita Koumi (Judeo-Spanish songs), playing concerts in Belgium, France and Holland.

Pierre Michaud frequently plays for children and senior citizens. Since '91 he has performed a Beatles recital with his brother, guitarist Philippe Michaud (Duo Two Of Us).

In June '99, he completed "Juliette", a first CD of his own compositions, on which he also plays the piano and sings.

PRESS REVIEWS

(...personal compositions full of surprising corners and original ideas. On top of technical diversity (he played with the bow and his fingers but also using his instrument as a rhythm guitar), Pierre Michaud showed an aptitude for the fusion of classical and jazz elements, peppered with touches of rock...) "BERNER ZEITUNG" (Switzerland)

(...this musician was always ready to pass from the most demanding moments to typical jazz phrasing and new discoveries...) "BADISCHE ZEITUNG" (Germany)

After this well behaved jazz, without too much risk, the daring exercises of P. Michaud are only accentuated. This virtuos musician is dedicated, since tender age, to composing. His itinerary nartured in him a very personal style.

...Il nous gâte avec de très belles mélodies (May And The Child), accompagnées de manière descriptive, comme dans Time Drops où les "gouttes de temps" sont rendues par un picking imagé... ...On est bercé par son romantisme, et on peut prétendre que Pierre Michaud a trouvé ce que d'autres passeront le reste de leur vie à chercher : une forme d'expression, de musique, et un son qui n'appartient qu'à lui..." "VERS L'AVENIR" (Belgium)

Ref. Art & Vie: mnt 010

Rue Middelbourg, 29, 1170 Brussels
32-2-660 68 46 (phone & fax)

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