Michael Bridge is a seventeen year old bayanist, accordionist, and pianist from Calgary, Alberta. Michael began piano lessons at age four and piano accordion lessons at age seven. His wonderful, long-time teachers are Beverley Fess (accordion) and Donna Holoboff (piano). Michael has one year of high school remaining but plans to study music at university. He is preparing for his Grade 10 Royal Conservatory of Music piano exam in June of 2010 and completed his grade 8 RCM Bayan (free bass chromatic accordion) exam in January. He has completed advanced RCM theoretical studies in harmony, history and counterpoint and is now focusing on analysis.

At the age of fourteen, Michael released the first CD of his own original compositions entitled "My Stuff." He has also published a book of sheet music to match this CD. His second CD of original works, "Sharon's Song," was released in October 2009 in Las Vegas, USA.

In August 2008, Michael attended the International Music Accordion Camp in Italy conducted by Peter and Mady Soave and their colleague Jean-Louis Noton. It was a fabulous week of workshops and camaraderie. At this camp, he began his study of a new, more complex instrument, the Bayan. Michael won the Open Championships in 2008 at the Edmonton and Kimberley competitions and also won the Virtuoso Championship at the Calgary Festival. In 2009, he was invited to perform at the Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration in June. In early July, he represented Canada in France performing in three cities as part of a touring group of international artists. Then, in October, he appeared in concert and taught workshops at the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention. Michael was also chosen to perform in a Honens Master Class on the piano, which also took place in October, 2009.

On June 8, Michael was honoured to perform Czardas (by Monti) at the Boston Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops Orchestra. He received this invitation from a national public radio show called From The Top which promotes classical music in pre-collegiate aged musicians. This event was part of the 10th anniversary gala for the wildly popular radio show and the show will be broadcast in early September.

This October, Michael will make the trip to Croatia to compete in the two 17 and under categories at the prestigious Coupe Mondiale (World Cup) in Varazdin. He will compete in the Junior Coupe and the Virtuoso Entertainer categories. As a warm up to this event, Michael will compete in the Anthony GallaRini International Competition for Classical Accordionists at the end of July in Santa Clara, California.

Michael is a gifted and engaging young musician who is determined to raise the profile of the accordion and bayan for the next generation. He is passionate about classical music but also loves to perform as a one-man band playing popular, dance or jazz tunes.