Michael said, “All sounds are performed live on Digital Accordion, without background music. It is from my 2018 solo album “Overture” This piece uses the digital accordion’s ability to produce sounds that are sensitive to both swell (bellows) and finger velocity (percussion).
Thus, a single performer can control a huge number of instrument sounds by assigning each one to a different section of the instrument. All percussion sounds are played with the left hand, and three chin switches facilitate turning various sounds on and off. Over 50 customized sound settings are used throughout this work.”
Michael Bridge is a featured performer and Master Class Presenter at the AAA Festival Gala Concert July 17-21, 2019 in King of Prussia, PA. Michael Bridge will also perform at the Museum of Music Making on July 28, 2019 at 4:PM in California. Lauded as “a wizard of the accordion,” Michael Bridge is internationally-renowned for his warm stage personality, stereotype-smashing versatility, and blazing virtuosity. Named one of CBC’s “30 Hot Classical Musicians Under 30,” he made his solo orchestral debut with the Boston Pops and gives over 100 concerts per year. His debut solo album, “Overture,” was named CBC Album of the Week.
More than a classical musician, Michael simply describes his repertoire as ‘concert music’ – encompassing baroque, classical, and contemporary works, plus many of his own concert arrangements of folk music. Prolific in working with composers, Michael has given over 40 world premieres and toured internationally. In addition to performing solo shows,he performs with orchestra as well as with his two ensembles – Bridge+Wolak and Ladom Ensemble.
Michael is pursuing doctoral studies in accordion performance at the University of Toronto, with Joseph Macerollo. His first accordion was purchased at a garage sale for $5 when he was five, and two decades later, he is redefining the perception of his instrument. Named one of CBC’s “30 Hot Classical Musicians Under 30,” he is internationally recognized for his dynamic stage-presence and unique musical versatility. His repertoire includes classical masterworks, baroque, jazz, world music, folk dances, contemporary classical, and digital accordion compositions which showcased the diverse genres possible with the accordion and removes stereotypes concerning the limitations of the instrument.
Michael’s performance at the Museum is funded in part by the City of Carlsbad Cultural Arts Office. This event is presented in conjunction with the Accordions: Expanding Voices in the USA special exhibition.
Michael made his solo orchestral debut with the Boston Pops at 17. now performing over 100 concerts a year, He is a founding member of Double- Double Duo having toured Ecuador, Poland, France and across Canada with his col- laborator, Dr. Kornel Wolak (clarinet).Their debut album launched in 2015, entitled ‘Rock Bach’. He performs in Ladom Ensemble, an acostic Iranian-Serbian-Classical-Tango Quartet. Michael has over thirty world premieres to his credit, including works by Anna Pigdorna, Airat Ichmouratov and Pouya Hamidi. As a composer, he wrote and recorded two folk albums
For further information: michael@michaelbridgemusic.com
